Fullerton Slogs Past Magnolia

It was difficult, at times, to tell what the Magnolia and Fullerton football teams were struggling to overcome the most in their nonleague game Saturday at Glover Stadium--themselves or their opponent.

Fullerton, despite eight first-half penalties and the loss of a top running back, did a better job of slogging through to the end and won, 34-21, in front of a crowd of about 300.

A Magnolia fumble and Indian Clint Messiter’s second interception led to Fullerton’s final two scores in the fourth quarter, breaking a 21-21 tie.

Until that point, it had been a relatively even meeting. Fullerton never led by more than eight, and twice the Sentinels, who scored on their opening possession, battled back to tie the score.

Of concern for Fullerton was the status of running back Joseph Emigh. He carried 12 times for 65 yards and a touchdown, but left the game because of a shoulder injury after a six-yard gain to open the second half.

Quarterback Justin Bruce responded, finishing with 209 yards passing, 121 of those in the second half, and two touchdowns. Tight end David Brookman caught 11 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Will Speer led Magnolia with 131 yards rushing and a touchdown in 23 carries.

Magnolia opened the game driving 65 yards on 15 plays. Sam Uai scored on a two-yard run, but Fullerton blocked the extra-point attempt.

Fullerton scored on a two-yard run by Emigh and a three-yard plunge by Josh Leech on its first two possessions. The big play on the second drive was a 48-yard pass from Bruce to Brookman.

Magnolia went to the air on its next scoring drive, and defensive back Eric Freund stepped in for starting quarterback Anthony Zaragoza. Freund capped a nine-play, 60-yard drive with a 15-yard scoring pass to Lenny Martinez and then connected for the two-point conversion with tight end Joe Camarillo.

Angel Garcia’s 49-yard touchdown catch and run was called back on a rare offensive facemask penalty on the Indians’ next possession.