Cougars Stun Fullerton College

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Freshman quarterback Justin Morales threw for a career-high 187 yards and two touchdowns and the 15th-ranked Cougars shocked No. 3 Fullerton College 26-13 on Saturday night at Cougar Stadium.

Morales complete 19-of-26 passes, including a 53-yard bomb to wide receiver D.J. Stephens for a score, for the quarterback's most solid game to date.  

The Cougar defense held its own on Saturday, holding the Hornets to 6-of-17 on third-down conversions and 1-of-3 on fourth-down conversions. The Canyons defense also added a touchdown in the final seconds of the game on an interception, making it the second week in a row that the defense has put points up on the scoreboard.

Canyons looked to be in trouble to start the game, as the Hornets jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and COC couldn't record a first down.

After finding its groove in the second quarter, Canyons posted its first points of the game on a 15-play, 75-yard march down to the end zone that was topped off by a 17-yard pass to Stephens. Kicker James Rodriguez, who was 2-for-2 on point afters on the night, earned the point after, to close the gap on Fullerton, 10-7.

The Cougars' defense kicked in on the following Hornet drive, holding the Hornets to 3-and-out. COC capitalized on the possession with a 41-yard Rodriguez field goal, tying the game at 10-10 with 3:03 left before the break.

On the ensuing kickoff, Fullerton turned the ball over on a fumble, and Ryan McKillop picked up the ball and took it to the Fullerton 6-yard line. COC couldn't get in the end zone, but Rodriguez was able to post a 20-yard field goal that put the Cougars on top, 13-10.

The scoring continued for COC after halftime, while the Hornets were silenced again in the third quarter. Morales' final scoring TD connection was to Stephens again –
this time for 53 yards.

The long pass gave COC a 20-10 lead headed into the final period. Fullerton would score three more points with a field goal, to make in 20-13, but a final push at the end of the game put COC up even more.

With less than a minute left in the game, Fullerton's last pass was intercepted by defensive back Kalen Powell at the COC 45-yard line, who returned the ball the 10-yard line, before a last-minute pitch to defensive back Arron Fisher, gave Fisher the score.

Running back BJ Iverson had 10 carries for 43 yards and Stephens finished with seven catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

COC's defensive backs led had a stellar night, leading the team in tackles. Antwan Smith had 10 tackles, eight solo, a pass break up and a sack on the night, while Kenny Shanahan had seven tackles, five solo and one pass break up. Fisher led the team with four break ups and added six solo tackles.

COC, who improves to 3-1, will begin its conference season Saturday, Oct. 3, against Allan Hancock College in the homecoming game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.