Cerritos Quickly Smashes Hornets’ Hopes for Rally

Fullerton scored 11 consecutive points in the third quarter against Cerritos Saturday to create the illusion that the Hornets still had a chance.

The field goal, touchdown and two-point conversion cut host Cerritos’ lead to 14 points with 6 minutes 42 seconds left in the quarter.

But Cerritos then scored three touchdowns in the next 4:34 and went on to a 48-21 victory in a Mission Conference football game.

Fullerton’s third-quarter touchdown came on a five-yard pass from Kevin Rodriguez to Brett Lobel and was followed by a conversion pass from Greg Garand to Derek Grimes.

The talk on the Fullerton sideline was about the defense coming up with another big play like the interception and 46-yard return by linebacker Vince Vaccaro that set up the first Fullerton touchdown.

But Cerritos (3-1) took five plays and 1:30 to go up 35-14 and the Fullerton dream started to grow faint.

The dream suffered another setback when the Hornets went three plays and punted and was dead when Cerritos needed only three plays to travel 65 yards for a touchdown and a 42-14 lead with 2:31 left in the third quarter.

The touchdown came on a 45-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Matthews to Robert Castillo, who had nine catches for 169 yards. He had five catches of 15 yards or more.

Fullerton’s next possession lasted one play as Cerritos defensive back Ray Ross caught a deflected pass and raced 32 yards for a touchdown and a 48-14 lead.

Brian McDonald, who went to Buena Park High, finished with 118 yards in 14 carries for Cerritos. McDonald scored on runs of 16 and four yards in the first half to help the Falcons open a 21-3 lead. He added an 11-yard scoring run early in the third quarter and has five touchdowns this season.

Nick Armstrong caught seven passes for 80 yards and a touchdown for Fullerton (1-3).