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Fullerton Breezes Past L A Harbor
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Fullerton Breezes Past L A Harbor

By: Dan Laget
Edition: 24 November 2009

The first possession of the game set the tone for the day. L. A. Harbor Seahawks kicker delivered a respectable 44 yard kick into the hands of Hornet D J Sophus. Then Sophus is off to the races – he returns the kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown. The home fans were delirious with excitement. On his second attempt, because of a penalty, Jake Tyler kicks the extra point and the Fullerton Hornets lead 7-0.

The Seahawks respond. Fighting for every inch of real estate, they move the ball down the field 72 yards in 13 plays for the touchdown. The biggest play of the drive was an 18 yard pass from Domini Blackman to Prentice Gill. Harbor simply chipped away at the Fullerton defense, and on a first and goal from the one yard line, Jon White punches through for the score. With just over nine minutes left to play in the first quarter, the score is all knotted up at seven.

Fullerton responded quickly, again. On a third and five from midfield, Darius Banks connects with receiver Justin Dunford for a 23 yard gain. Two plays later, he hands off to Kenny Turner who rips a 27 yard run for the touchdown. Jake Tyler adds one point and Fullerton moves ahead 14-7.

Once again, Harbor struggles for points. The three biggest plays of the drive was two 19 yard Blackman passes: one to Jonathan Davis and one to Jon White; then a 21 yard pass to Dwayne Frampton. The balance of the 78 yards was gained in three to five yard passes or rushes. Nevertheless, on a third and seven from the eight yard line, Blackman connects with Dwayne Frampton for the touchdown to come within a point of Fullerton. The point after is missed and the first quarter ended 14-13, Fullerton.

The Seahawks defense made Fullerton work for their next touchdown. This drive took 15 plays to move 73 yards for six points. The biggest play of the drive was also the last play: a Darius Banks 24 yard pass to Darryl Shine. The point after was good and Fullerton pulled ahead 21-13.

On the ensuing kickoff, Banks bangs a whopping 70 yard kickoff into the Harbor end zone. Thomas Gray returned the ball 20 yards, but because of a penalty, they started the drive at their ten. Blackman connected with Ronald Gaudin for 17 yards and to Gill for 19, but the Fullerton defense stopped them cold at the Fullerton 24. Harbor turned the ball over on downs. Fullerton was unable to capitalize with only 1:17 left to play in the first half and the remained 21-13 as the teams head into the lockers.

Harbor gets good field position on their first drive of the third quarter which starts 61 yards away from pay dirt. The three biggest plays of the drive were all passes from Blackman to Gill: one for 30 yards and two for 16 yards. On second and goal from the Fullerton one yard line, the Seahawks fans held their collective breath when Blackman fumbled, and in the ensuing mellay, managed to recover it himself. On third and goal, Donald Mathews punches it in for the score and the Seahawks trailed by two points. Naturally, they tried for a two point conversion, but failed in the attempt, so the score remained 21-19 with just under 11 minutes left to play in the third quarter.

No one knew it at the time, but this would be the last time in this game that the Seahawks would light up the scoreboard.

Fullerton, on the other hand, wasted no time in responding. As a result of a ten yard return of a mediocre 28 yard kick from the Seahawks, Fullerton starts the drive from their 37 yard line. After successive three to six yard gains and one nine yard pass from Darius Banks to Kenny Turner, Fullerton inches their way to midfield. Then Banks throws a 52 yard bomb to Turner for the touchdown resulting in a Fullerton lead of 28-19.

Due to a 32 yard kickoff return, Harbor starts the subsequent drive in good field position. However, the Seahawks shoot themselves in the foot. On first and ten from their 40, Blackman is intercepted at the Fullerton 48 by Filipo Tuala who returns the ball 12 yards. Add 15 yards for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and Fullerton has the ball first and ten from their 25.

A false start penalty sets the Hornets back five yards but Kyle Essington makes up for it and more: he rips down the center of the field for 23 yards to the Harbor seven yard line. A couple plays later Turner punches through a lethargic Harbor defense which resulted in a 35 to 19 lead.

The next Fullerton scoring drive began with 11:45 left to play in the fourth quarter. Harbor has to punt deep in their own territory which was partially blocked by Gary Watson. Aaron Garbutt recovered the ball and returned it four yards to the Harbor 27 yard line. After a couple short yard gains on the ground, Banks connected with Jereme Lagarde for a 15 yard touchdown. Tyler again adds the extra point and Fullerton is in the rocking chair with a 42-19 lead.

Fullerton added seven more points when Kyle Essington punches it in from nine yards out with 2:32 left in the game. This time Vincent Pagazza does the kicking for the final point and Fullerton breezes past L. A. Harbor. The game ends with a score of 49-19

Fullerton Breezes Past L A Harbor