Fullerton Risks Two-Game Winning Streak Against Struggling OCC

It took a serious embarrassment to get the Fullerton College football team going.

The Hornets gave up 47 second-half points Sept. 28 in a 67-27 loss to Cerritos but have since won two in a row and hope to make it three when they travel to Orange Coast for a Mission Conference Central Division game at 7 tonight.

Fullerton’s modest two-game winning streak exists thanks to the same defense that was constantly exploited by Cerritos. Fullerton (2-2, 1-0) stopped Riverside three times from the Hornet one-yard line in the final 30 seconds to preserve a 23-17 victory.

Carvel Gardner became the first Fullerton back this season to gain more than 100 yards in a game when he had 121 in 22 carries against Riverside. Fullerton quarterback Paul Waldrop has 10 touchdown passes.

Orange Coast (1-4, 0-2) also knows what it’s like to struggle. The Pirates are last in the 13-team conference in total defense, giving up 446 yards per game. Fullerton is only slightly better, giving up 402 yards.

Orange Coast, which has lost three in a row, has also given up a conference-high 26 touchdowns. William League (501 yards rushing) has a hamstring injury and isn’t expected to play. League ran for 226 yards and three touchdowns against Fullerton last season.

Chet Walker will start at tailback in place of League as OCC celebrates homecoming.

In other division games:

Golden West (1-3, 1-0) vs. Palomar (2-3, 0-1), San Marcos High, 6 p.m.--Golden West is trying to build off a 31-0 victory over Orange Coast. The Rustlers are led on offense by running back Charles Chatman, who has 369 yards rushing and 15 receptions for 141 yards.

Palomar has an outstanding defense, which is giving up 266 yards per game, the second lowest total in the conference.

Rancho Santiago (2-2, 0-0) at Riverside (0-4, 0-1), 7 p.m.--Coach Dave Ogas was joking that he was about to fire the offensive line coach (he is the offensive line coach), until last week’s 34-21 victory over El Camino. The Dons rushed for a season-high 228 yards.

In a Mission Conference game:

Saddleback (5-0) at Pasadena (1-3), 6 p.m.--Saddleback is ranked second in the nation by the J.C. Grid-Wire behind Blinn (Texas), which is 6-0. Saddleback is No. 1 in California and has won 11 games in a row over two seasons. Pasadena leads the all-time series, 2-1.