First Place Is on Line for Fullerton, Santa Ana

There will be several important things on the line when Santa Ana and Fullerton meet in a Mission Conference Central Division football game at 1 today at Cal State Fullerton.

The most important prize at stake is first place. Santa Ana (5-3, 4-0) is in first thanks to a five-game winning streak. If Santa Ana wins today and beats Riverside next week, the Dons will be assured of an invitation to the Simple Green Orange County Bowl Dec. 6.

Fullerton (5-3, 3-1) could get a share of first with a victory.

The teams also are playing for bragging rights in the oldest community college series in the state. The teams are meeting for the 75th time. Santa Ana leads the series, 36-34-4.

Fullerton Mayor Chris Norby has added another item to the pot, a large key that the winner receives. There will be a short presentation before the game to introduce the key. It has the score of each of the games on it and will be updated each year.

Santa Ana has outscored its opponents, 229-87, during the five-game streak. The Dons have 37 touchdowns overall, and Anousith Wilaikul has made all 37 extra-point tries and is seven of eight on field-goal attempts with a long of 47.

Santa Ana sophomore Tramel Robinson has an Orange County-best 686 yards rushing. The Dons also rely on an exact passing attack led by freshman quarterback Archie Lappin. He has completed 66% of his passes for 1,061 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Fullerton has a county-best 19 interceptions, led by Frankie Salazar’s seven. Mike Flores and Richie Williams have four each and Alex Carbajal has two.

Fullerton had won five in a row before losing to Saddleback, 27-7, last week.

In other games:

Saddleback (5-3, 3-1) at Riverside (4-4, 3-1), 7 p.m.--Saddleback’s defense played its best game last week, holding Fullerton to seven points. The Gauchos are third in the conference, giving up 282 yards per game. Their strength is stopping the run. Teams average 66 yards per game. Riverside, which has won four of five, is averaging 155 yards rushing.

Golden West (2-6, 1-4) plays Palomar (3-5, 1-3) at 1:30 p.m. at La Costa High and Orange Coast (0-8) is at El Camino (5-3) at 7.