FULLERTON – Ladera Vista Junior High is a short drive from Fullerton High and an even shorter drive from Troy.
A hop, skip and a jump off the 57 Freeway, Ladera Vista splits Fullerton children into three groups: those who attend Fullerton, those who attend Troy, and those who attend Sunny Hills.
The intra-city tri-rivalry is fueled by student bodies that grew up playing sports together. The Fullerton city championship is as much a prize to those kids as the Freeway League or CIF championship.
Friday, Troy took its first step toward recapturing city supremacy with a 28-21 overtime victory over Fullerton at Fullerton High.
Troy’s Nick Magee then scored on a 23-yard run in overtime. A fourth-and-8 pass attempt on Fullerton’s subsequent possession fell incomplete, and the Warriors (5-1, 1-0) avenged last fall’s season-ending loss.
“This win means the world to us,” receiver Dominic Vaccher said. “We’ve prepared all summer for the city championship, and oh my goodness. This crosstown rivalry is awesome. We’ve worked so hard for this one game.
“A down-to-the-wire win like this, that’s Troy football right there.”
Vaccher rarely left the field. He finished with six receptions for 138 yards and two scores and played defensive back all game. Vaccher also punted and returned punts.
His 79-yard TD grab late in the third quarter knotted the score at 21.
“He is unbelievable,” Troy coach Kevin Hastin said. “He absolutely saved us tonight. He played both ways every snap. He never comes off the field. Literally. He’s unbelievable.”
An interception on the goal line by Troy defensive back Brett Haima kept the score even at 21 late in regulation.
“Every year this game means something more,” Hastin said. “It’s the city championship.”
Fullerton quarterback Andrew Tavarez opened the scoring with a 1-yard TD run that capped an 11-play drive kept alive by a fourth-down conversion near midfield.
Fullerton (3-3, 0-1) then halted a promising Troy drive, and Josh Hill scored 12 plays later on a short run.
Contact the writer: bwhitehead@ocregister.com
