|
Santa Ana Loses "Key to the County" to Fullerton
SANTA ANA , CA – The Santa Ana College (SAC) football team lost to visiting Fullerton College at Santa Ana Stadium in the "Key to the County" game. The 20-18 victory improves the Hornets record to 3-0 while the Dons fall to 0-3. This is the first 0-3 start for SAC since the 2002 season when the Dons finished 2-8.
Neither team was able to generate much offense in the first half of the game as the team's battled to a 0-0 tie. Fullerton had a chance to score in the second quarter but the Dons' defense made a goal line stop on fourth and goal from the two-yard line. SAC had a chance to score later in the half but a 40-yard field goal attempt was blocked by the Hornets with 25 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Dons scored the first touchdown of the game six minutes into the second half when Mark Iddins (Kamiak HS) connected with R.J. Koch (Pacifica HS) on a 40-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt was blocked and the Dons were up 6-0.
SAC forced a Hornet punt on the ensuing possession followed by a 61-yard drive capped off by a two-yard rushing touchdown by Jeffrey Quinn (Tustin HS). The Dons were unable to convert the two-point conversion making their lead 12-0.
The Hornets answered on the first play of the fourth quarter when Kyle Olson hit Marquis Avery for a 19-yard touchdown pass cutting the Dons' lead to 12-7. After an Iddins interception, Olson threw his second touchdown pass, this time to Avalino Valencia for a two-yard score. After a failed two-point conversion the Hornets had their first lead of the game at 13-12.
Fullerton extended its lead with less than six minutes remaining in the game when Olson and Avery connected for another touchdown putting the Hornets up 20-12 after the extra point.
SAC answered on the ensuing possession when Iddins threw his second touchdown pass of the game hitting Tyler Walker (Canyon HS) for a five-yard touchdown to cut the Hornets' lead to 20-18. Fullerton sacked Iddins on the two-point conversion to hold on to its two-point lead.
The Dons were unable to stop the Hornets as they ran the remaining three minutes off the clock to seal the victory.
Iddins finished the game with 258 yards on 20-for-37 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. Bryson Kelly (Kamiak HS) led the Dons in rushing with 85 yards on 18 carries and Koch was the Dons leading receiver, catching four passes for 87 yards and one touchdown.
This was the 85th meeting between the two teams with SAC holding a one game lead with a record of 41-40-4 overall against Fullerton.
Next: Orange Coast at Santa Ana, Saturday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. |
