Warriors Storm Back From Double-Digit Deficit to Down Fullerton

TORRANCE, Calif. --- No. 21 El Camino College overcame a double-digit deficit and stunned No. 8 Fullerton, 35-28, in a non-conference matchup Saturday night at Murdock Stadium.

The Warriors (3-2) scored 21 unanswered points to erase a 28-14 first-half deficit and score the team's first win over the Hornets since 2007*.

Dylan Guerra made his return under center for the Warriors and was outstanding, going 14-for-19 for 258 yards and four touchdowns. He connected on touchdown passes of 60 yards, 14 yards and a pair of 23-yard strikes to power the offense.

Stephen Bradford Jr. had another excellent game in the backfield, racking up 120 rushing yards on 21 carries with a touchdown. He also added a 29-yard reception. Through five games this season, Bradford Jr. has gone for more than 100 rushing yards four times and is averaging 114 rushing yards per game.

As good as the offense was, the defense was just as good, particularly in the second half. The Warriors shutout the Hornets in the second half and forced two turnovers on downs and also had an interception. In seven second-half drives by the Hornets, the Warriors forced two punts and three turnovers. The Hornets best drive in the second half was a 17-play, 59-yard drive on their first possession third quarter, which resulted in a missed 40-yard field goal by Ceasar Velazquez. It was his third field-goal miss of the game.

Deven Jarvis led the defense with 11 tackles but left the game late in the fourth quarter after being the recipient of a blind-side block by Fullerton's Mike McRay, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty that negated a Fullerton first down. It proved to be a critical moment as, rather than 1st Down and Goal from the Warriors seven, the Hornets were sent back to the 30-yard line for a 3rd-down and 3 situation. The Warriors' defense capitalized, forcing a pair of incompletions to turn the Hornets over on downs with 51 seconds left and seal the win.

Other defensive standouts for ECC included Lando Brown with nine tackles including two for a loss and a forced fumble. Maximus Ahoia, Justin Sanchez and Kekoa Carroll each had seven tackles with Sanchez recording a pair of sacks. Davion McClinton had four tackles and recorded an interception on the night.

With the victory, the Warriors are now 15-17-1 all-time against Fullerton. Counting 2019's forfeit victory, the Warriors have recorded wins in four of the last five meetings dating back to 2004.  

The Warriors will go into their bye-week with a 3-2 record in non-conference play and will return to action on Oct. 16 with their National Central League opener against Mount San Antonio at Murdock Stadium. Kickoff will be set for 6 p.m.