Gardner Helps Fullerton Win Offensive Battle, 39-33

Carvel Gardner scored a career-high three touchdowns to lead Fullerton to a 39-33 Mission Conference Central Division victory over Orange Coast Saturday night at Orange Coast.

Gardner scored in the first half on runs of 16, six and four yards as Fullerton took a 22-12 halftime lead.

Orange Coast College (1-5, 0-3 in conference) rolled up 216 yards in the first quarter but held a slim 12-7 lead on touchdown runs by Chet Walker of eight and 80 yards. The Pirates had 133 yards rushing and 83 passing in the first quarter.

Fullerton (3-2, 2-0) took three plays in the third quarter, covering 74 yards, to increase its lead to 29-12 on a 14-yard scoring pass from Paul Waldrop to Paul Visser. The Hornets added a 42-yard field goal by Chris Diaz with 9 minutes 17 seconds left in the third quarter.

Orange Coast cut the margin with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Chad Collins to Marquis Battle with 5:38 left in the third quarter.

Fullerton regained its 20-point advantage when Geoff Berg hit Chris Young with a 14-yard touchdown pass with 13:09 left in the game.

The Pirates rallied with a touchdown run of five yards by Walker and a 30-yard scoring pass from John Frank to Walker with 3:57 left.

Fullerton was able to run out the clock to remain undefeated in conference play.

As expected in a game featuring the two worst defenses in the 13-school conference, the offenses dominated.

Gardner and Walker each had 147 yards rushing. Collins hit 12 of 16 passes for 172 yards for Orange Coast and Waldrop completed 10 of 16 for 130 yards.

Fullerton finished the game with 441 yards; Orange Coast accounted for 428 yards total offense.

The game’s only turnovers came as a result of errant passes by Berg. An interception by Jeff Mocny off a deflection by Dave Brown prevented a third-quarter touchdown by Fullerton. And Craig Nosse helped to get Orange Coast back into the game with a 30-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.

Palomar 31, Golden West 7--The host Comets rolled up 521 yards in total offense as they knocked off the Rustlers (1-4, 1-1) in a Central Division game at San Marcos High. Palomar (3-3, 1-1), which ranks second in the Mission Conference in defense, held Golden West to 13 net rushing yards and 208 total yards.

Golden West tailback Charles Chatman was held under 100 yards for the first time in four games, finishing with 42, but accounted for the only Golden West score. His five-yard sweep around right end for a touchdown with 6:39 remaining cut the Comet lead to 17-7.

Palomar added two more touchdowns, including a 97-yard Walter Wright run, to put the game away. Wright finished with 150 yards in 12 carries, and Marvin Morris added 125 yards on the ground.

Saddleback 21, Pasadena 7--Saddleback won its 12th consecutive game with the victory over host Pasadena.

For the sixth game in a row, the Gauchos held their opponents scoreless in the first quarter. But Pasadena (1-4) got on the board first, taking a 7-0 lead at halftime.

Saddleback (6-0) responded in the third quarter with two touchdown passes by quarterback Justin Vedder.

Gabe Payne pulled in a 48-yard, over-the-shoulder catch from Vedder to tie the score, 7-7, and later in the quarter Vedder threw a screen pass to Brendan McGraw who ran 43 yards for the touchdown and a 14-7 lead.

In the fourth quarter a sack by Steve Sutherland forced a Pasadena fumble, giving Saddleback the ball on Pasadena’s eight-yard line. Four plays later, Phil Cruz took it in from one yard out for the final touchdown.

Mark Reynosa led Saddleback in rushing with 76 yards in 14 carries. Vedder completed 15 of 27 passes for 248 yards and one interception.

Rancho Santiago 7, Riverside 3--Rancho Santiago scored on its opening drive of the game and held on to hand Riverside its fifth consecutive loss at Riverside.

The 65-yard drive was punctuated by a six-yard touchdown pass from Matt Mitchell to Aaron Kenney.