GETTING PAST SADDLEBACK

The No. 5 in state Fullerton College football team took a trip down to Saddleback College Saturday night and held off the Bobcats 34-32. 

In recent years, Saddleback and Fullerton have had a great rivalry with Saddleback leading the all-time series 18-17 before tonight's contest. The Fullerton win now ties it up at 18 apiece in a series that began in 1982; a 38-6 Hornet victory. FC beat the Bobcats last season in a 31-30 nailbiter.  

FC (8-1) and Golden West College (8-1 overall) remain the only undefeated teams in the SCFA National-Southern Conference with 4-0 records. They will go toe-to-toe next week at Fullerton Stadium to determine the 2022 conference champion. Last season, the Rustlers won the title beating Fullerton in close hard-fought battle 12-7. 

For tonight's game, both teams were successful in their first drives of the game, hitting field goals. Connor Grace was good for 33 yards for Saddleback and Jonathan Fobear answered back with a 29-yarder for Fullerton.  

A sweet cut to the outside by Garnett Davis for 25 yards set up the Hornet's first touchdown. With 52 seconds left in the first quarter, Malik Davis took the ball to the house from 6 yards out putting FC up 10-3 after the Fobear PAT. 

At 9:46 in the second quarter, the Hornets added to their lead (13-3) thanks to a down-the-middle 37-yard field goal by Jonathan Fobear. 

The Bobcats hit back with a 13-yard strike from QB Brandon Berwald to Caleb Peterson at the 5:46 mark. Saddleback went for the 2-point conversion and failed on a run-play. 

A near sack led to an interception by FC's Kion Marshall that brought the ball to the Saddleback 17 yard line. A 14-yard pass by QB Brandon Nunez to Aidan Koenig put the Hornets on the Saddleback 3-yardline. Nunez crossed the goal line on a keeper on the next play. Fobear's PAT was good pushing the score to 20-9, in favor of Fullerton, with a minute left in the half. 

The third quarter saw the Hornets score 2 touchdowns at the 8:30 and 4:10 mark. Brandon Nunez took the ball into the endzone on a 13-yard scamper and Khadari Kurns ran the ball back on a Bobcat 60-yard missed FG return for 99 yards. 

Saddleback scored near the end of the third with 2 minutes left when Jake Thomas took off on a 16-yard run. Once again, the Bobcats went for a 2-point conversion and were successful on a pass by Billy Durocher. 

With the score 34-17, Saddleback caught on fire in the fourth quarter scoring 15 unanswered points. At 12:08 Branden Berwald passed to Billy Durocher for a 5-yard TD, and with 2 minutes left in the game Berwald struck again this time to Zachary Roebuck from 15-yards out. 

The Hornet offense did its best to burn all the time off the clock, but Saddleback got the ball back with 22 seconds left in regulation on their own 19-yardline. Pulling off only 2 plays, the Hornet defense rose to the occasion preserving the FC victory. 

Amari Williams had a big night for the FC defensive unit with a team-high 7 tackles and 2 sacks. Bryce Dunnuck also had 2 sacks along with 4 tackles.

Up Next: The Hornets (8-1 overall, 4-0 Southern Conference) will have their Homecoming game against Golden West College on Saturday, November 12th at Fullerton Stadium. Many former football Hornets will be attending this crucial game. Come on out and support the team! Kickoff is at 6:00 pm. 

*Photo by Aaliyah Skipper