Mounties Dominate Fullerton 44-14, Returns to State Semifinals

YORBA LINDA – After taking a year’s hiatus from the State playoffs, the Mt.SAC Mounties took the first step to returning, easily dispatching the host Fullerton Hornets 44-14 Saturday afternoon in the Southern California Bowl.

The Bowl game, which also doubles as the Southern California regional semifinal saw the Mounties dominate Fullerton, just as it did in an earlier meeting between the two teams, an encounter which Mt SAC won 34-10.

Justin Alo went 17 of 38 for 272 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Alo targeted Derrick Macon six times for 87 yards and Chris Gilchrist four times for 64 yards and a touchdown. Omaris Tolbert led Mounties rushing attack, going for 76 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.

“We had to be more efficient,” Alo said about the team’s dominating play. “Coach preached every day that we had to be more efficient and dominate, and we came out here today and did that.”

Mt. SAC took the initial drive and seemed to have been stopped, but a roughing the kicker by Fullerton gave Alo and the Mountie offense new life, which Mt SAC capitalized on, as Alo connected with Gilchrist on a 30-yard pass for the first score of the game.

Fullerton got on the board with a 35 yard field goal by Casey Eyman to close the gap to 10-3 to end the first quarter.

After Tolbert scored his first touchdown, a 3-yard run, Alberto Villarreal would add a pair of 35-yard field goals to extend the Mounties lead to 23-3 heading into halftime.

Mt SAC continued to dominate as the second half opened when Hornets quarterback Joey Verhaegh was sacked and fumbled which was picked up by Sulisi Tamaivena who returned it 25 yards for a score.

Tolbert and Tony Gates each added a rushing touchdown as Mt SAC built its lead to a 44-6.

Fullerton finally scored an offensive touchdown when the game was out of reach, a one-yard run by Oran Maxwell.

“We took two big losses this season and we worked hard to come together as a whole,” Macon said. “Nobody is able to beat us when we play together as a whole.”

Mt. SAC faces Riverside, one of the two teams which defeated the Mounties this year, at Riverside next Saturday. Kickoff is at 6pm.

Photo: Omaris Tolbert picks up some of his 76 yards on the ground.

BOX SCORE

1ST QUARTER – MT SAC Chris Gilchrist 35 yard pass from Justin Alo (Alberto Villareal kick) 11:35

MT SAC Villareal 29 yard field goal 5:20

2ND QUARTER – FULLERTON Casey Eyman 35 yard field goal 14:55

MT SAC Omaris Tolbert 2-yard run (Villareal kick) 13:20

MT SAC Villareal 34 yard field goal 8:16

MT SAC Villareal 34 yard field goal 1:06

3RD QUARTER – MT SAC Sulisi Tamaivena 25 yard fumble return (Villareal kick) 14:27

FULLERTON Eyman 35-yard field goal 7:03

MT SAC Tolbert 14-yard run (Villareal kick) 5:54

MT SAC Tony Gates 11-yard run (Villareal kick) 1:16

4Th QUARTER – FULLERTON Oran Maxwell 1-yard run (2-point conversion pass by Howard Gauta) 2:53