FULLERTON  - John Madden says the one thing a prevent defense does is prevent victory.

The former coach and longtime broadcaster would have loved the way Fullerton’s defense played in the final moments of the fourth quarter.

Instead of dropping an abundance of defenders into pass coverage, Fullerton blitzed El Dorado quarterback Kane Wilson on its final three plays, forcing two incompletions and a game-clinching interception, to secure a 20-16 nonleague victory Thursday at Fullerton High.

It was El Dorado’s first loss since its 2007 season-opening loss to Esperanza. The Golden Hawks then won their final 13 games to win the CIF-Southern Section Southwest Division championship. Fullerton is 2-1. The Indians lost their season opener to Canyon, then beat La Mirada, 33-16, last week. They play host to Western next Friday.

El Dorado is 1-1. The Golden Hawks play Valencia at Valencia next Friday.

Michael Allain rushed for 224 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries for Fullerton. He scored on a 47-yard run to supply the winning points in the fourth quarter.

Fullerton coach Julian Smilowitz said putting pressure on Wilson was an easy choice.

“That’s what high school football’s all about,” he said. “You have to take your chances.”

El Dorado had maneuvered quickly to the Fullerton 15 where the Hawks faced a second-and-6. Wilson, under blitzing pressure from linebackers Anthony Milone and Vance Leon, threw two incompletions On fourth down with 40 seconds left, Wilson, under siege again, was intercepted by a diving Jack Sieloff to end the threat.

Fullerton had taken the lead on Allain’s run with 7:11 to go.

Allain, who has rushed for 559 yards in three games, consistently exploited holes created by the offensive line of Emilio Cardona, Julio Cortez, Randall Hicks, Eric Lopez and Taylor Rees, and fullback Brian Lopez.

El Dorado’s first possession produced a touchdown on a 28-yard pass from Wilson to running back Brock Dunn. The extra-point kick missed, leaving the Hawks with a 6-0 lead. Fullerton took a 7-6 advantage on a 1-yard run by Milone and Daniel Gallant’s extra point.

The Golden Hawks regained the lead in the second quarter on a 9-yard touchdown run by Sinjin Hathoot to make it 13-7.

A 31-yard field goal by Ian Miller made it 16-7. Fullerton scored in the fourth quarter on quarterback Dominic Ficociello’s 8-yard run to cut El Dorado’s lead to 16-13.

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Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com