FOOTBALL: BIG REBOUND

The No. 8 FC football squad welcomed No. 11 Allan Hancock College to Yorba Linda High on Saturday and handed the Bulldogs a 41-7 loss.

After losing last week to College of the Canyons 22-17, the Hornets rebounded in a big way playing with speed and confidence overrunning the power and brawn of Allan Hancock (3-1 overall).

The Bulldog offense lined up in a tight formation while trying to run ball down the throats of the Hornets. It did not work today as the FC defense held Hancock in check with 3 net yards rushing and 123 net yards passing. 

The Hornets scored early and often putting up 21 points in the first quarter. Running back Branden Rankins scored the game's first touchdown from 7 yards out (13:14), running back Ryan Black got in on the action with a 60-yard scamper (8:04), and quarterback Tra Edwards took off for a 24-yard score.

In the second quarter, Fullerton added 3 points to Hancock's 7. FC kicker Ceasar Velazquez knocked in a 19-yard field goal (10:55). The Bulldogs lone score came on a 6-yard run by Christian Erickson (3:30). Prior to the score, a muffed snap on the punt gave AHC the ball on the FC 6-yardline.

The door was closed on Allan Hancock in the third quarter when Rankins ran in his second TD from 10 yards out (8:57). Quarterback Chandler Galban put Fullerton up 38-7 on a 6-yard run.

In the fourth quarter FC put up the game's final points when Velazquez kicked in a 36-yard field goal with 8:56 left in regulation.

Jonoven Smith led Fullerton's stellar defensive-play with 7 tackles. Jordan Wright followed with 6 tackles and added a forced fumble. Isaac Hurtado had 4 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and 2 tackles for a loss of 17 yards.

Offensively for the Hornets, the ball was spread around with efficiency. Quarterback Tra Edwards led the charge on the ground with 80 yards on 8 carries and a TD. He was also 4-5 for 39 yards passing. Quarterback Chandler Galban was 8-11 for 144 yards through the air.    

The last time these two teams met was nearly 10 years ago on October 1, 2011. Under head coach Tim Byrnes, FC traveled up to Santa Maria that season and won the game 25-20. The all-time series is short but sweet with Fullerton now leading 4-1. The first time they met was at the 1994 Western State Bowl held at Allan Hancock College on December 3rd. It was a hard-fought 38-33 win for Coach Gene Murphy's Hornets.

Up Next: The Hornets (3-1 overall) will hit the road for a non-conference battle against El Camino College on Saturday, October 2nd. Kickoff is at 6:00 pm.

Re-watch the game- click here.

*Photo by Jim McCormack

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