HORNETS KICKOFF SEASON WITH LANDSLIDE WIN

For the 2024 season opener, the FC football Hornets hit the coast of Santa Barbara City College on Saturday night and showed out with a 38-0 victory over the Vaqueros.

Earlier this week, the California Community College Football Coaches annual preseason poll came out ranking Fullerton in the No. 5 slot with Riverside (No. 1), San Mateo (No. 2), Mt. San Antonio (No. 3), and American River rounding out the top five colleges in the state. Longtime Hornet assistant coaches Phil Austin (DB's/Special Teams Coord./15th year) and Brian Crooks (Defensive Coord./25th year) are sharing the head coaching duties this season. Both Austin and Crooks locked down their first win tonight as head coaches and will complement one another very well as they continue to build more on to FC football's winning tradition.

"Tonight's win feels great. Coach Austin and I just kept the Hornet standard that has been handed down throughout the years. We work extremely well together- there are no egos with us. The decisions we make together are for the betterment of the team and overall program. It's definitely a team-win tonight. It's the players, the coaching staff, the athletic trainers, our AD, and everyone else associated with our program who work their tails off every day that keep us successful", said Co-Head Coach Brian Crooks.

After a long wait, football was finally back after FC kicked the ball off to SBCC. Both teams stalled in their maiden drives, but the Hornet offense kicked into gear scoring on their second drive in three plays. FC quarterback Tobey Schmidt connected on a 37-yard pass to  Jabre Bevineau and on the next play hit Desmond Duffy in stride in the middle of the endzone for a 31-yard touchdown at 5:05. Charles Viorel knocked down the PAT giving Fullerton a 7-0 lead.

The FC defense forced a quick three-and-out on the Vaqueros on the next drive, and the Hornet offense soon took advantage scoring at the top of the second quarter on a 16-yard pass from Schmidt to Jahmeer Cartagena. Viorel's extra point kick put the Hornets up 14-0 at the 14-minute mark.

With five minutes left in the first half the Hornets put three more points up on the scoreboard when Charles Viorel booted in a field goal from 29-yards out. By halftime, FC owned a strong 17-0 lead.

Fullerton took the ball down the field on the first drive of the second half scoring a touchdown in five plays. Tobey Schmidt continued his sharp-play hitting Jahmeer Cartagena for a 46-yard gain setting up a 10-yard TD back to Cartegena that put the Hornets up 24-0 at 12:29 in the third quarter.

The Hornets went up 31-0 with 3:16 left in the third quarter when Schmidt threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game connecting with Desmond Duffy for the second time for a 20-yard strike. 

Santa Barbara looked as if they might break up Fullerton's shutout as they drove the ball all the way to the Hornet 9-yardline, however SBCC quarterback Benni Collins was sacked by Johnnie Ingram for a 17-yard loss and the ball popped out. Fred Adams Jr. scooped the ball up and ran it all the way back for a 74-yard touchdown with six minutes left in the game. The FC record for longest fumble return happened in 1928 by Bill Jewet. It was a 102-yard return.

Sophomore QB Tobey Schmidt was electric against the Vaqueros going 11 for 15 for 230 yards with 4 passing touchdowns and no interceptions. Jahmeer Cartagena was the top receiver with 4 catches for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns. Following close behind was Desmond Duffy with 3 catches for 62 yards and 2 TDs. Elvis Vakapuna led the way on the ground with 3 rushes for 43 yards.  

The Hornet defense pulled off a shutout win holding Santa Barbara to 213 yards of total offense (20 yards net rushing). The team racked up 10 sacks, forced 3 fumbles, and had 1 interception. Ethan Charpentier led the way in tackles with 14 and had a sack. Sean Malcom had 10 tackles, and Jeremy Naborne had 6. Derek Bermudez had an interception along with a tackle.

Up Next: The No. 5 Hornets (1-0 overall) have a big test for their home opener on Saturday, September 14th when No. 16 College of the Canyons comes to Hal Sherbeck Field. Kickoff is at 6:00 pm but come by the FC football parking lot earlier to see some great old hotrods for the "Crusin' to College" car show from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

*Photo by Aaliyah Skipper