Hornets keep key to the county

The Fullerton Hornets football team came out with a 41-10 victory over the Santa Ana Dons in its season opener, Saturday at Eddie West Field in the 88^th annual "Key to the County" game.

The win gives the Hornet a 43-41-4 overall record in the teams' long time rivalry, a rivalry that has been played for 65 consecutive seasons.

The first six Hornet drives resulted in four turnovers: two Darius Banks interceptions, a Matt Goggans fumble under center and a turnover on downs.

"We're our own worst enemy," said Hornet Head Coach Tim Byrnes. "We have to not turn the football over, we have to make tackles, we have to catch the football and we can't fumble the football. We had four turnovers in the first half."

Banks looked to be a brand new quarterback after the first quarter orchestrating two consecutive touchdown drives late in the second quarter, which gave  the Hornets a 13-3 lead going into the half. Banks finished the game with 209 yards through the air on 18-28 pass attempts and four touchdown passes and was named the "Key to the County" offensive player of the game.

Banks spread the ball throughout the game, hitting 11 different receivers and three of them for touchdowns.

A newcomer at wide receiver, Willie Downs was an immediate impact for his new team. Downs recorded 6 catches for 64 yards and was on the receiving end of two of Banks' four touchdown passes. Following the first quarter lapses, Downs told his teammates they could get it done.

In the third quarter Downs made one of his better catches of the game on fourth-and-goal. Banks threw Downs a fade route in the back of the end zone, Downs came down with his second touchdown of the game giving the Hornets a 20-10 lead with 11:56 remaining in the third quarter.

"I was just feeling good today, I was just going after the ball, I felt like it was mine and I had to go get it," Downs said of his play-making ability. "In the second half we just came together. We slowed the offense down and did big things and made big plays."

The Dons scored their only touchdown of the game on their first drive of the second half. Quarterback Marcus Meraz connected with EJ Cheatam down the right sideline on a 33-yard touchdown pass, capping a four-play drive that went for 68 yards. Meraz finished the game 12-22 for 68 yards and one touchdown pass.

Hornet running back Kelvin York accounted for 105 of the teams 179 rush yards. York broke a 65-yard touchdown run in the third quarter giving the Hornets a commanding 27-10 lead.

York was named the "Key to the County" Most Valuable Player of the game. York finished with nine carries, 105 yards and two touchdowns.

"I'm very excited and I feel very blessed to be out here playing football again," York said. "The offensive line did a good job of blocking for me; I read the blocks and hit the hole as hard as I could."

The Hornet defense was stingy allowing 246 total yards of offense to the Dons. Linebacker Brandon Guerrero was named the Defensive Player of the Game recording six tackles, four solo and two assisted.

The Hornets will travel to Ventura College (1-0) Saturday at 6 p.m.