Dons drop season opener

FOOTBALL.

Game date: September 2, 2011.

Dons drop season opener, key to the County game, against rival Fullerton College.

Down 14-6 in the fourth quarter, Dons quarterback Andrew McDonald could have played the hero by completing a drive that would have tied the game against rival Fullerton College.

He was picked off by Hornets defensive end Brendan Haskins instead.

In the 89th Key to the County Game that kicked off the football season, a young Dons squad still feeling its way with the loss of star running back Akele Mustafa lost 21-13 against Fullerton College at Titan Field.

The Hornets offense stung the Dons early, scoring on its first possession on five plays executed over two minutes on a 27-yard pass from quarterback Matt Goggins to Collin Floyd that led to a 51-yard drive.

“I was speechless. We gave them good field position, then one bad play,” Dons linebacker Dylan Reda said.

While the Dons defensive line gave the Hornets offense some problems, it didn’t take long for the home team to figure out a way to dance pass what looked to be a physically imposing blocking game.

“Basically we had to try to run down this Santa Ana defense, cause they were very physical upfront… The offensive line did a good job of blocking and making the holes, I ran hard to get this win for my team,” said Hornets running back Kelvin York.

York led the running attack, finishing with 127 yards on 28 carries.

The nature of the intense rivalry, going back to the founding of both colleges, turned to hostility after both teams were penalized multiple times for personal fouls.

“Some linemen were holding and there were cheap shots going back and forth. We have to learn to keep composure and not retaliate,” Reda said.