ANAHEIM – Which football team this year is going to be last year’s Fullerton?
Which combination of returning lettermen, underclassmen and varsity novices will fly under the Orange County radar, only to play its best ball when the games matter most?
Every team every fall believes its that dark horse, that team to watch for. Fact is, only a select few teams actually are.
With Friday night’s 34-7 road victory over Kennedy at Western High, this year’s Fullerton team laid claim to its purported role as a county underdog.
“People don’t think we’re going to be as good as we were last year,” said running back Josh Hill, who finished with 109 total yards and three touchdowns. “But we’re still here.”
Fullerton co-head coach Gus Martinez said before the game he was more nervous this week than he was at this time last year. The recent graduation of so many key seniors from his 2013 Southwest Division semifinals team left many unknowns in their stead.
His returning upperclassmen answered the bell, and then some.
Three-year letterman and first-year Fullerton starting quarterback Andrew Tavarez completed 19 of 28 pass attempts for 249 yards and three touchdowns. The senior completed passes to six different receivers, and teammate Kaene Soto had 127 receiving yards.
“If I had to give a player of the game,” Martinez said, “it would go to Andrew. He led the offense, had a great game, and once he figured out what his offensive line was giving him in protection, he began getting more comfortable out there.
“I’m proud of a lot of our guys tonight,” Martinez said.
Kennedy running back T.J. Williams carried the ball 30 times for 158 yards, and receiver Joey Ortega had three grabs for 50 yards.
After a scoreless first quarter, Tavarez capped a 14-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to David Wagner. Following a Kennedy score, Fullerton regained the lead on a short TD run by Hill.
Fullerton’s special teams recovered its ensuing onside kick, and Tavarez connected with Hill for the 10-yard catch-and-go touchdown reception that gave the visitors their 21-7 halftime lead.
“Josh is a little beast of a running back,” Martinez said. “He’s strong, smart, and once he gets going, man, he’s fun to watch.”
A 30-yard TD grab by Soto and a 5-yard scoring run by Hill finished the scoring.
Contact the writer: bwhitehead@ocregister.com