Fullerton slips past Saddleback

The Orange County Register

10.26.09

By Martin Henderson

As Fullerton College coach Tim Byrnes addressed his team after its 22-13 Southern Conference victory Saturday over Saddleback, running back Kenny Turner yelled, “This is a good victory.”
   Byrnes corrected him in front of the team: “That’s a great victory!”
   Despite two offensive juggernauts failing to combine for the 38 points that each was averaging per game entering the contest at Saddleback College, Fullerton seized control of the conference by limiting Saddleback’s big plays and taking advantage of special teams mistakes. Now, the Hornets are in control of their own destiny.
   “I would have been happy if we won this game 3-2, or 56-55,” said Byrnes, whose squad is attempting to win its second consecutive conference title but faces a critical game next week at Palomar of San Marcos.
   Fullerton (6-1, 3-0), ranked No. 4 in Southern California, is the only team in the conference that was undefeated, and had it lost, it would have created a four-way tie for first place. No. 8 Saddleback fell to 6-2, 2-2.
   Turner carried 23 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns, and Kyle Essington (Brea Olinda) completed a 41-yard scoring pass to Darryl Shine with 13:35 remaining that gave Fullerton some breathing room in a game it won despite fumbling twice inside the Saddleback 10- line.
   Defensive lineman Anthony Walton (Anaheim), who had 3.5 sacks of his team’s seven sacks, led the Fullerton defense. The Hornets also had three interceptions, by Raul Pintado, Derrick Price Alex Valdez, the last with 3:13 left in the game to seal the victory. Pintado’s 54-yard return set up Turner’s second 1-yard TD run for a 15-6 lead.
   Before that, Saddleback had two bad snaps on punts, one that set up a 26-yard drive for Fullerton, the other resulting in a safety and an 8-0 lead.
   MARTIN HENDERSON
   Special to the Register
   In other games:
   Grossmont 43, Orange Coast 1 2: The Griffins (7-1, 3-1) broke the game open with two 60-plus yard touchdowns from Matt Jarvis against the visiting Pirates (6-2, 1-2).
   Golden West 66, Compton 0: Six players scored touchdowns for the Rustlers (3-4, 3-1) as they routed the visiting Tartars (0-7, 0-4).