COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Fullerton Stays on the Ground, Rises to 21-13 Victory Over Cerritos

FULLERTON —  Fullerton College showed off an impressive running game Saturday that rolled up 395 yards as the Hornets defeated Cerritos, 21-13, at Fullerton District Stadium.

Fullerton’s running game was so dominant that the Hornets attempted only two passes--both incomplete--in the second half.

The surge was led by a quick offensive line and darting quarterback Eric Robinson. Robinson, who was a wide receiver at Fullerton last season, rushed for 146 yards in 24 carries. He completed four of 11 passes for 78 yards and one touchdown. Fullerton had 473 yards in total offense.

“He a tremendous athlete,” Fullerton Coach Hal Sherbeck said of Robinson. “We knew he could do some things, that’s why we moved him.”

Fullerton’s two freshman tailbacks also had strong performances.

Brian Williams rushed for 118 yards in 14 carries and scored a touchdown. Coy Collins ran for 81 yards and a score in 17 carries. Sophomore fullback Don Norris added 32 yards in nine carries.

“If there are better backs in this league, I don’t want them,” said Sherbeck, who is in his 30th season. “I’ll take ours.”

Fullerton’s defense also had a strong night, led by linebacker Ward Van Pelt and defensive back Matt Shackelford. Van Pelt recovered a fumble and nabbed an interception.

Shackelford had a pair of interceptions, each near the end of both halves.

Fullerton scored on a 14-yard run by Williams and on a 31-yard pass from Robinson to tight end Rob Coons in the second quarter and led, 14-10, at the half.

Fullerton took a 21-10 lead on a four-yard run by Collins in the third quarter.

Cerritos got a 37-yard field goal by J.D. Barker to cut the lead to 21-13 with 12:53 left in the game.

Cerritos (1-1) then got as close as the Fullerton 2 before the Hornet defense came up with an important play with about 7 minutes left.

Cerritos quarterback Pete Montera completed a 10-yard pass from the 12 to Charles Hicks, but as Hicks turned to run for the goal line he was smashed by several Fullerton players and the ball popped out. It was caught in the air by Toby Howell.

Fullerton then used its ground game to run out most of the remaining time.Twice on third down, Robinson was able to convert by scrambling as the Hornets drove to the Cerritos 28 before turning over the ball on downs with 1:10 left.

Montera, from Kennedy High School, completed two passes before he was intercepted by Shackelford with 18 seconds left.

Montera was nine of 33 for 270 yards and one touchdown. He also threw three interceptions. The touchdown was a 75-yarder to Cliff Parks in the second quarter. Parks ran a simple post pattern, but the Fullerton secondary bought into a play fake by Montera, leaving Parks at least 20 yards in the clear for the easy score. Parks caught four passes for 172 yards.

In other games:

Santa Monica 33, Saddleback College 16--Jeff Barrett threw for a touchdown and ran for two others as Santa Monica (1-0) won at home. Chris Bisgaard scored on a five-yard run to pace Saddleback (0-1).

Rancho Santiago 32, San Diego Mesa 6--Estrus Crayton rushed for 93 yards on 21 carries and caught three passes for 94 yards to lead the Dons (1-0) at San Diego Mesa. Crayton scored three touchdowns, two on passes from Richard Fanti and one on a one-yard run. Fanti completed 10 of 14 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Reserve quarterback Steve Calhoun was five of eight for 57 yards and one touchdown.

Rancho Santiago amassed 449 yards in total offense and limited San Diego to 12 yard rushing.

Golden West 35, Long Beach 14--Frank Vaccara rushed for 116 yards in 19 carries, including a 72-yard touchdown run on the first carry of the second half, to lead Golden West (1-0) at Long Beach (0-2).