Weekly Hornet

Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Sports

Photo by Matt Brown

Photo by Matt Brown

For the sixth time in seven years the "Key to the County" belongs to the Hornets.

The 85th meeting between the Santa Ana and Fullerton is the oldest Community College football rivalry in the state.

Just like the inaugural game between these two teams 91 years ago, which ended in a 0-0 tie, this game too ended in a 0-0 tie; at the end of the first half. Second half scoring was the "Key" in this game.

For the second consecutive week, the Hornets took another fourth quarter to come from behind and win. They came back from a 12-point deficit to beat the Dons 20-18 Friday night at Eddie West field. Fullerton has yet to lose a game this season.

"Being 3-0 puts ourselves in a great position for the future," said Hornets Assistant Head Coach Tim Byrnes.

Hornets (3-0) quarterback Kyle Olson was 8 of 16 for 82 yards with three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Two of the touchdown passes were thrown to sophomore wide receiver Marquis Avery.

"[Kyle and I] talked before the season," Avery said. "And said we have to be the ones to step up for the team this season."

Going into the fourth quarter, Fullerton was down 12-0 due to a couple of Santa Ana touchdowns.

"We have to get into rhythm earlier in the game and we didn't do it until late," Byrnes said. "We struggled out of the huddle today for almost three quarters."

Dons (0-3) quarterback Mark Iddins connected with wide receiver R.J. Koch on a 40-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. The second Santa Ana touchdown was scored by running back Jeffrey Quinn on a 2-yard run.

Iddins finished the game 20 of 37 for 258 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception.

Hornets defense played a large part in the come back victory.

On the ensuing drive after Fullerton scored its first touchdown of the game, Iddins was intercepted by Hornets safety Matt Estrada out of La Habra High. The interception put Fullerton at mid-field.

From there Fullerton marched down the field and scored on fourth down from the two with a pass from Olson to tight end Avalino Valencia. The score put the Hornets ahead 13-12 with 11:09 left to play in the game.

Fullerton would score again at the six-minute mark on a ten-yard Olson to Avery touchdown pass, which put the Hornets up 20-12.

Santa Ana would not throw in the towel just yet.

With 2:50 left in the game, Iddins threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Walker that could tie the game with a successful two-point conversion.
This would not be the case.

Hornets defensive end Steven Wulff sacked Iddins, preserving the Fullerton's two point lead and essentially giving the Hornets the victory.

Both teams in the first half opted to go for it on fourth down instead of settling for field goals.

Santa Ana, from the Fullerton 26 yard line, went for it on fourth and nine, when Hornets line backer Ryan Hurtado sacked Iddins to force a turnover on downs.

Fullerton followed suit. From the Santa Ana two-yard line Olson threw an incomplete pass in the end zone.

For the Dons, this was the third game this season where they had a chance to win late in the game, but failed to do so.

"I'm proud of these guys," said Geoff Jones Dons Head Coach. "They left it all out there [on the field]."

Olson would finish the game 19 of 32 for 169 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

Avery finished with six catches for 69 yards and two touchdown receptions.
The Hornets will take on Saddleback on Saturday, who defeated former Fullerton defensive coordinator Casey Mazzotta's Mt. San Jacinto Eagles 51-0 in its season opener.

Saddleback quarterback Brian Shrock was named Mission Football Conference player of the week for week 3.

It will be a game of the undefeated; both teams enter the game 3-0.

Fullerton 20, Santa Ana 18
Fullerton 0 0 0 20 - 20
Santa Ana 0 0 12 6 - 18

SA-Koch 40 yd pass from Iddins(Canney, kick blocked)
SA-Quinn 2 yd run(Iddins pass failed)
FC-Avery 19 yd pass from Olson(Reyes PAT)
FC-Valencia 2 yd pass from Olson(Olson pass failed)
FC-Avery 10 yd pass from Olson(Reyes PAT)
SA-Walker 5 yd pass from Iddins(Iddins drop-kick failed)

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