FALLING SHORT IN THE SCFA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

The Hornets saw their successful 2022 season end on Saturday afternoon, falling 31-17 to Riverside City College in the SCFA title game.  

In a series that began in 1927, Riverside and Fullerton last met in 2019, for the second game of that season, at Shapell Stadium in Yorba Linda. The Tigers won that bout 16-7, and after today's win own the all-time series record at 29-39-1. 

Taking the ball down the field in their first drive in six plays, the Tigers took a 6-0 lead on Donovan Harvey's 1-yard plunge into the endzone. 

The Hornets answered back six minutes later when Jonathan Fobear booted a 45-yard field goal cutting the RCC lead in half. 

Riverside scored the next two touchdowns, bumping its lead to 20-3. Bryce Strong ran the ball in from the 1-yardline to end the first quarter, and the brothers Retzlaff connected on a 19-yard TD through the air. 

Fullerton crossed the goaline at 6:41 on a nice 12-yard scamper by quarterback Brandon Nunez, but three plays later RCC scored on Jake Retzlaff's pass to Alfred Jordan for a 74-yard touchdown. By halftime, the Tigers owned a 28-17 lead. 

Fullerton's drive to open the second half sputtered, but a tipped ball for a pick by Jeremiah McNeeley gave the Hornets another chance from the RCC 12-yardline. A play later, Tyrell Greene Jr. ran the ball in from the 9-yarline. Still trailing 28-17 with 11:33 in the third quarter, the Hornets had plenty of time to get back in the game. 

The Tigers went on to convert on a 37-yard field goal at 6:51 in the third taking a 31-17 lead. 

In the fourth quarter Fullerton had two chances to score from within Riverside's 5-yardline, however they came up short going for it on fourth down on both occasions. The Tigers held onto the ball long enough to burn the clock making it impossible for an FC comeback. 

It was a great season for the 10-2 Hornets, who won the Southern Conference for the first time since 2017 and made it to the SCFA Championship for the 7th time in the program's history.