Canyon holds on to stop Fullerton

ORANGE – These Fullerton-Canyon games can be dramatic.

Canyon's final-minute goal-line stand enabled the Comanches to hold on for a 12-6 victory over Fullerton at El Modena High in the season opener for both teams Thursday.

When Fullerton and Canyon met in the 2009 season opener, it was Fullerton that held on for a 21-20 victory.

Canyon had a 9-0 lead at halftime. Fullerton opened the second half with a scoring drive to make it 9-6. The Comanches' Mario Marinaci kicked a 26-yard field goal with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 12-6.

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Starting from its 27, Fullerton drove to the Canyon 6-yard line. A first-down, 1-yard run by Troy Pinelo was followed by two incomplete passes, and a false start penalty on the Indians pushed them back to the 10 for a fourth-and-goal try. Fullerton quarterback Anthony Martinez threw to the back right corner of the end zone to David Reynoso, who tried to stay in bounds and make reaching catch. But he could not hold on to the ball, and might have been out of bounds if he had made the catch.

"That's a huge way to win it, with a goal-line stand like that," Canyon coach Brent McKee said.

Canyon took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when senior tailback Travon Cox scored on a 39-yard run. Going left, Cox turned the corner and bounced off of a couple of Fullerton defenders before sprinting up the left sideline to the end zone.

The Comanches added a safety in the second quarter. On third-and-10 at the Fullerton 4, Martinez dropped back into the end zone to pass, was quickly surrounded and brought down by a charge of Comanches led by Michael Estep and Ty Parker. That gave Canyon the 9-0 lead that lasted until the third quarter.

Fullerton started the third quarter with good field position when James Salazar returned the second-half opening kickoff 43 yards to the Canyon 49. The Indians started pounding away from there, going with 10 consecutive running plays to advance to the Canyon 17.

On third-and-seven at the 17, Martinez completed a pass over the middle to Joey Harrison at the 10.

Harrison turned and headed for the end zone but the ball was popped loose as Harrison got to the 1. The ball bounced toward the back of the end zone, and Fullerton's Corey Lindsey pounced upon it near the end line for the touchdown. Canyon's Josh Seiler blocked the kick for the extra-point try, leaving the score 9-6.

Canyon thought it got a touchdown later in the third quarter. A Canyon punt bounced between the Fullerton punt returner's legs near the Indians' 15, bounced into the end zone where Canyon's Travis Slotemaker recovered it. Officials ruled that the punt returner did not make contact with the football, thus making it a touchback.

Canyon, 4-6 last year, plays at Laguna Hills next Friday. Fullerton, 8-3 in 2009, plays host to Anaheim next Friday.