BOBCATS DECLAWED!

The No. 4 in state FC football team remains undefeated after knocking off Saddleback College 49-30 on the road Saturday night.

History between the Bobcats and Hornets goes back to 1982 with Fullerton owning the all-time series at a close 20-17. After tonight's victory, the Hornets have now won three straight games against Saddleback since Head Coach Garrett Campbell took over the program. The first meeting in 1982 was also a win for Fullerton- a 38-6 victory in the Pony Bowl for Hal Sherbeck's Hornets.

Fullerton scored its first touchdown on the opening drive at the 11:09 mark when quarterback Brandon Nunez hit a wide open Christian Steward in the back corner of the endzone from 13 yards out. On the previous play, it was Michael Vakapuna's 22-yard run up the middle of the field that put the Bobcats on their heels. Jonathan Fobear's point-after kick put FC up 7-0.

The Bobcats had their hands full in the first half with a very active Hornet defense that had 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. FC capitalized on the first two turnovers scoring on a 19-yard field goal by Fobear with 1:30 left in the first quarter. Fresh off an interception by FC's DJuan Grant on the Saddleback 3-yardline, QB Brandon Nunez reared back and hit tight end Cameron Woods on a deep slant for a 41-yard TD. Prior to the score, Nunez took off on a 50-yard run up the middle setting the 17-0 advantage.

Saddleback's Kian Afrookhteh kicked a 21-yard field goal with 3:24 left in the first half, and then a costly Hornet fumble, on their own 3-yardline, allowed the Bobcats to get back in the game. Running back Trey Kukuk punched the ball into the endzone 20-seconds later pushing the score to 17-10.

The Hornets did not waste any time scoring on their next drive as Brandon Nunez rolled out hitting Christian Steward again for a 10-yard strike giving FC a 24-17 lead by halftime.

Saddleback began the third quarter with a 50-yard passing touchdown from Trey Kukuk to Jacob Sears getting within a touchdown of the Hornets at 24-17, but FC went on to rip off three unanswered scores of its own to pull ahead 46-17. Nunez tossed two touchdowns to wideout Leland Smith (6 & 26 yards) and Khadari Kurns ran back a 65-yard punt to the house. Fullerton went for a two-point conversion pass from Nunez to Jeremy Gonzales and nailed it.

With two minutes left in the third, the Bobcats would not go away scoring a touchdown on a 6-yard run by Ezekiel Peirce. 

Holding a solid 46-24 lead, the Hornets made it 49 thanks to a 39-yard field goal by Jonathan Fobear helping to put the game on ice.

Still, Saddleback had some fight left. With 7 minutes left in regulation, quarterback Trey Kukuk took off on a 30-yard sprint to paydirt for the final score of the game.

FC QB Brandon Nunez had a very impressive night against the Bobcats throwing 5 touchdowns for 183 yards and no interceptions. Nunez also had a huge game on the ground rushing for 125 yards on 10 carries. FC's leading rusher was Michael Vakapuna, who edged Nunez with 126 yards on 21 carries. Wideouts Leland Smith and Christian Steward both had 2 touchdowns apiece.

It was the most points put on the FC defense all season, but the tenacious group had 4 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 sacks, and 7 breakups.

Up Next: No. 4 Fullerton (9-0 overall, 6-0 conference) travels to No. 2 Riverside City College to decide who will be the Southern Conference champions on Saturday, November 14th. Kickoff is at noon. Head on out to RCC to cheer on your Hornets for the biggest game of the season.