TO THE SOCAL REGIONAL TITLE GAME!

The No. 2 seed Hornet football squad will be playing in the Southern California Regional Championship after defeating No. 3 Mt. San Antonio College 45-41 in a shootout at Lebard Stadium Saturday night.   

After falling to the Mounties in 2019 (Central Conference title game) and 2021 (Patriotic Bowl), tonight's victory is a nice piece of redemption for the Hornets. A friendly rivalry that began back in 1946 (Hornets won 28-13), Fullerton bumps its all-time series lead to 38-24-2. It was a high scoring affair that totaled 86 points; the 3rd highest score between the two teams. The highest scoring games were in 2016 (56-35) and 2018 (53-43). 

FC struck first at 3:37 in the first quarter when quarterback Brandon Nunez threw a 50-yard pass to Aidan Koenig. 

With 5 seconds left in the first quarter, Mt. SAC got on the board on a 78-yard bomb from QB Ike Udengwu III to Shemar Savage. 

Hornet QB Josh Calvin connected with tight end Cameron Woods on a 54-yard strike on a beautifully executed flea-flicker at 12:19 in the second quarter. 

Mountie kicker Diego Esqueda kicked in a 33-yard field goal on the next drive (8:26). A quick three-and-out by the FC offense gave Mt. SAC the ball back, and four plays later the Mounties hit paydirt on a 25-yard pass from Udengwu to Xavier Rawls. By halftime, the Mounties held a 17-14 edge. 

The third quarter looked promising for Fullerton scoring a field goal (25-yards by Jonathan Fobear) and two quick touchdowns within minutes. Recovering the ball from the kickoff, the Hornets converted on an 11-yard pass from Nunez to Will Gipson at 9:14. Less than a minute later, Jeremiah McNeeley picked up a Mt. SAC fumble and took it back to the house for a 35-yard score. The two-point conversion run by Garnett Davis III was successful. 

The Hornets were enjoying a healthy 32-17 lead, but the momentum swung hard in favor of the Mounties. Ike Udengwu III rushed for a 21-yard touchdown (4:44 3Q), Udengwu hit Shemar Savage in stride for a 52-yard TD (3:01 3Q), and Diego Esqueda knocked in a 35-yard field goal that put Mt. SAC on top 34-32 at the 10-minute mark of the fourth quarter. The battle was on. 

With three minutes left in the game, FC answered the call scoring on a 16-yard scamper by Josh Calvin. The two-point conversion pass by Calvin missed, but the Hornets still held a 38-34 lead. 

The Mounties still had some gas in the tank scoring nearly two minutes later thanks to another touchdown pass from Udengwu to Savage from 22 yards out.  

Down 41-38 with 1:52 left, Fullerton QB Brandon Nunez took charge rushing for 21 yards, hitting Jordan Smith on a 25-yards pass and punching the ball in from 2-yards out putting the Hornets back up at 45-41. 

With the game on the line and 27 seconds left in regulation, Mt. SAC quickly moved down the field to the Fullerton 44-yardline. A huge sack by Erik Hehl stymied the drive. With one play left and a shot at the endzone, Labarron Kennedy knocked the ball loose causing a fumble and Hehl recovered it as the last second ticked off the clock. 

GAME MVP - Tyrell Greene Jr. (120 yards on 21 carries) 

PLAYER OF THE GAME FOR FULLERTON - Jeremiah McNeeley (9 tackles, fumble recovery, TD) 

PLAYER OF THE GAME FOR MT. SAC - Ike Udengwu III (407 yards passing, 4 TDs, 0 ints.) 

Up Next: No. 2 Fullerton (10-1 overall) will play for the SoCal Regional title vs. No. 1 Riverside City College (11-0) at San Bernardino Valley College on Saturday, December 3rd at noon.