Division Title Up for Grabs After Hornets Defeat Pirates

Fullerton College, using a barrage of big plays and a deep bag of tricks, halted Orange Coast’s five-game winning streak and put the Mission Conference Central Division title on hold for one more week with a 47-35 victory Saturday at Cal State Fullerton.

The Hornets (4-5, 3-1) scored on pass plays of 57 and 82 yards and a punt return of 71 yards. They also used a fake punt for a 45-yard gain, a fake field goal for a 23-yard touchdown and a double pass for a 44-yard gain that set up a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown.

Orange Coast (5-4, 3-1) could have clinched the division title with a victory, but now several scenarios remain. Fullerton, Orange Coast and Palomar still have shots at the crown and automatic bowl bid.

“This was a very big game for us,” Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy said. “We had to do everything we could to win. The thing is that the plays worked this time.”

Murphy said his team has tried fake field goals and fake punts several times this year, without a lot of success.

“We try four or five times a game,” Murphy said. “Most of the time they don’t work.”

Orange Coast was within 34-28 when James Dawkins ran 51 yards for a touchdown with 2:42 left in the third quarter, but Fullerton, aided by a 44-yard double pass from Jeff Crooks to Brian Bartczak to Ben Reneau, scored early in the fourth to take a 40-28 lead.

The Pirates pulled to within 40-35 when Johnnie Peeples returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a score with 11:55 remaining, but Fullerton answered on its next play from scrimmage when Crooks connected with Terrance Moore on a 47-yard pass to the Orange Coast six. Matt Gogan scored from a yard out three plays later to give Fullerton a 47-35 lead with 10:11 remaining.

The Pirates drove to the Fullerton two with just over three minutes to play, but Fullerton’s Chad Scott intercepted a Nick Higgs pass at the one and Fullerton ran out the clock.

Orange Coast Coach Mike Taylor seemed upset about losing on so many trick plays, but credited Fullerton for spotting the openings.

“That’s a tribute to them,” Taylor said. “It’s part of the game and it’s all within the rules.”

Fullerton first reached into its bag of tricks in the first quarter after Orange Coast scored on its opening drive.

Facing fourth and two from their 42, the Hornets lined up to punt. The snap went directly to Gogan, at halfback, and he passed to Guy Porter for a 45-yard gain that set up Gogan’s three-yard touchdown run.

The fake field goal came midway through the third quarter. Bartczak, the backup quarterback, lined up as the kicker and took the direct snap. He hit Porter on the left sideline for a 23-yard touchdown.

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Palomar 41, Santa Ana 7--Keiki Misipeka and Josh Galae’i each rushed for two touchdowns as host Palomar (6-3, 3-1) gained 524 yards in total offense.

Santa Ana (1-8, 1-3) scored on a three-yard pass from Grant Wagner to Derrick Barnes in the second quarter to pull the Dons to within 14-7. Wagner completed 21 of 33 passes for 179 yards and Barnes caught eight passes for 99 yards.

Saddleback 17, Golden West 14--Freshman kicker Jay Arnston made a 21-yard field goal with 6:05 left to lift the host Gauchos (3-6, 2-2). Golden West is 0-9, 0-4.