Fullerton Can’t Stop Buena Park

Entering Friday night’s Freeway League game against Buena Park, Fullerton Coach Julian Smilowitz said the key to beating the Coyotes was to stop running back Brian McDonald. But McDonald rushed for 240 yards and three touchdowns in Buena Park’s 28-7 victory.

McDonald, a junior, has 1,097 yards rushing on the season and has scored 18 touchdowns.

“We had to go out tonight and earn respect,” McDonald said. “With the holes the offensive line was blowing open, anyone could run like that.”

After a scoreless first quarter, the Coyotes marched 85 yards on 13 plays and took a 7-0 lead when McDonald scored on a nine-yard run.

McDonald increased the lead to 14-0 late in the second quarter when he darted up the middle, broke several tackles and raced 58 yards for a touchdown.

On the last play of the first half, Fullerton (3-5, 0-3) faked a field-goal attempt and holder Jonathon Pate tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Juan Monzon.

McDonald scored on a four-yard run in the third quarter and quarterback Ruben Gasso added a 10-yard touchdown run late in the game to secure the victory for the Coyotes (3-5, 2-1).

“This was a huge win for us,” first-year Coach Manny Saiz said. “If we get past Sonora last week, we may be playing for the league championship in our last game.”