COC Survives Test Against Fullerton College

FULLERTON, Calif. – Freshman defensive back Marlon Douglas recovered a Fullerton College fumble at the College of the Canyons 15-yard line to prevent the Hornets from tying the game with less than two minutes to go for the Cougars' closest win of the season, 34-28, on Saturday night.

The Fullerton College Hornets outscored COC 21-6 in the second and third quarters to take a 21-20 lead over COC. The two teams tied the score in the fourth at 28, but a final COC touchdown at 4:41 gave the Cougars the advantage.

This was the closest game of the season for COC – the Cougars have been defeating teams by an average of 50 ppg – and its strongest competitor thus far.

COC had trouble moving the ball on its first possession and a myriad of penalties that added to its troubles. On the next drive, COC got it together with a four-play, 62-yard march that ended with quarterback Brad McClellan running 6 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt by kicker Ricky Drake, who was 2-of-3 on the evening, at the 5:58 mark of the first quarter gave COC a 7-0 advantage.

The Cougar defense held the Hornets at bay on the next possession, forcing the team to punt the ball after only reaching COC's 45-yard line.

COC took advantage of Fullerton's lack of moving the chains and scored another touchdown with 2:43 left in the first half. This time, running back Fred Winborn found a few openings and ran 39-yards into the end zone to put COC up 14-0.

Canyons kept it going in the second, but an 11-yard sack on McClellan on third and goal forced Drake to hit a 35-yard field goal with 10:58 left in the half.

Things started to get rough for COC in the second quarter. It all started when Fullerton blocked kicker Tyler Watson's punt at the COC 34-yard line, setting up a short field for the Hornets.

The Hornets then scored on the drive to cute the lead to 17-7. On the ensuing kickoff, the Hornets completed a successful onside kick that the team also set up another touchdown drive. In four minutes, Fullerton closed the gap on the COC lead, 17-14.

The COC offense finally got back on the field with less than a minute in the half. The Cougars moved the ball 34 yards, leaving Drake to a 52-yard field goal. Drake easily hit the field goal, tying a school record for longest field goal along the way.

Holding a 20-14 lead after the half, COC turned the ball over after McClellan's pass was intercepted on the Fullerton 46-yard line.

The Hornets capitalized on the COC miscue and scored another touchdown to take a one-point lead, 21-20.

COC didn't score again until the fourth quarter of the game on a one-yard carry by sophomore running back Brandon McDonald. COC went for two points and McClellan easily connected with running back BJ Iverson for a 28-21 lead.

Fullerton got the ball back on the following kickoff and it looked as if the kickoff would be returned for a touchdown, but Drake saved the score with his second touchdown-saving tackle of the evening, at the 50-yard line.

Fullerton found its way into the end zone, tying the game at 28 with 7:24 left in regulation.

COC relied on Iverson and McDonald to help set up for the final COC touchdown. Iverson used carries of 19 and 13 yards, while McDonald went for 19 yards and a 2-yard touchdown run to give COC a 34-28 lead. The extra point attempt failed, but by the end of the game, it wouldn't matter.

It looked like Fullerton would have the final points of the game on the next drive. Fullerton moved the ball all the way down to the COC 8-yard line, where it seemed it was just a matter of snaps before they would be in the end zone and then go for the extra point and the win.

But, on second and two, Fullerton's quarterback pitched the ball back to his running back who fumbled the ball. The Cougar's defensive back Douglas came up with the ball with 1:28 left in the game and that would end Fullerton's hopes for the win.

COC was held to only 107 yards passing, but made up for it with 302 yards rushing and for the first time this season had no passing touchdowns.

Winborn had 18 carries for 115 yards and one touchdown and McDonald had three rushes for 22 yards and two TDs. McClellan was 5-of-13 for 86 yards with one interception. McClellan also racked up 115 yards on 11 carries. Wide receiver Hayo Carpenter only had one catch for 41 yards, but had 41 more all-purpose yards to go along with it.

Defensive back Nick Tepea had five tackles (four solo) and linebacker Makana Atisanoe had six (three solo) and 1.5 sacks. Sophomore defensive back Roderick Oliver had COC's only interception to go along with his three solo tackles.

COC improves to 4-0, while Fullerton dropped to 3-1.

The Cougars begin their conference season Saturday, Oct. 4 as they travel to Allan Hancock for a 6 p.m. game at Righetti High School.