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Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

BUENA PARK – Fullerton and Sunny Hills annually split Nicolas Junior High’s graduating class, with both schools receiving athletes of all sports as a result.

Lately, Fullerton has received the football players.

Running back Ryan Rains scored twice, and both Kaene Soto and David Wagner added defensive touchdowns as Fullerton defeated Sunny Hills, 34-14, Thursday at Buena Park High.

“Our defense has started getting back into our flow,” Fullerton co-coach Gus Martinez said. “We’re starting to get our Fullerton identity back, especially against the run. Sunny Hills runs the ball incredibly well, and we defended it tonight.”

Fullerton (5-4, 2-2) controls its postseason destiny. If Troy beats Sunny Hills next week, then the Indians need to beat Buena Park. That’ll create a three-way tie between Fullerton, Troy and Buena Park for second place in the Freeway League.

The league’s second and third automatic playoff berths would then be decided by a series of coin flips.

“It’s almost the same thing as last year,” said Martinez, whose team needed to win a Week 10 game last fall to qualify for the postseason. “We certainly don’t like making it easy on ourselves.”

If Fullerton loses next week, its 5-5 record would likely leave it on the outside looking in.

Sunny Hills (5-4, 0-4) has been eliminated from playoff contention.

“We’ve let a game or two slip away this season, so we’re in a big spot all around,” Martinez said. “All we have to do is win one game to create some havoc in the Freeway League.”

Fullerton opened the scoring on Soto’s 16-yard fumble recovery touchdown. A short TD run by Sunny Hills running back David Cabral cut the deficit to one late in the second quarter.

Fullerton then scored on three consecutive possessions.

Contact the writer: bwhitehead@ocregister.com