Santa Ana, Fullerton Renew Old Rivalry

The second half of the community college football season starts today with four games involving Orange County teams, including one matchup that is the oldest community college rivalry in the nation.

Fullerton plays Santa Ana in a 1 p.m. game at Santa Ana Stadium, marking the 55th consecutive season the colleges have met and the 77th meeting overall. Santa Ana has won the last three times and leads the series, 38-34-4.

Santa Ana (3-2) comes into the Mission Conference Central Division opener with a three-game winning streak. The Dons are led by sophomore running back Cameron King (696 yards, nine touchdowns). He has rushed for 240 more yards than any other running back in the 12-team conference. Santa Ana’s Jeremiah Armendariz is tied for the conference lead in receptions with 26.

Fullerton has been inconsistent through five games. The Hornets dominated Long Beach, 26-7, and played well before falling to OCC and Pasadena by a total of 10 points. But they also lost to El Camino, 50-6, and to Cerritos, 33-0.

Prescott Hill, who was expected to be the team’s top running back but then hurt his ankle in the opening game, is expected back.

*

In other Central Division games:

Riverside (1-4) at Saddleback (2-3), 7 p.m.--Given the Gauchos’ inexperience, their record is about as expected. Malaki Lesa (99 yards rushing and 261 yards receiving) is expected back after missing two games with a sore shoulder.

Golden West (0-5) vs. Palomar (4-1), San Marcos High, 1 p.m.--Golden West, which has lost 15 in a row, has played better this season on defense. Louie Ala is the top running back, but he has only 139 yards in four games.

Palomar quarterback Greg Cicero (Servite) has thrown for 1,175 yards and 14 touchdowns. His father, Bob, played tight end at Golden West in 1973-74.

In a Northern Division game:

Cerritos (4-1) at Orange Coast (2-3), 7 p.m.--OCC started with a couple of impressive victories but has since lost three in a row. Quarterback Jared Flint has passed for a conference-best 1,227 yards and also has 10 touchdowns.

Cerritos has won four in a row.