Freshman kicker Jonathan Arreola (Mayfair HS) booted a 36-yard field goal as time expired to propel the Cerritos College football team to a 19-17 win over visiting - and #6-ranked team in the state - Fullerton College on Saturday. The win moves the Falcons (7-2, 5-1), ranked #15 in the state, into second place in the Central Division with one game left and brings them one step closer to the Southern California Regional Playoffs. The team will close out the regular season next Saturday with a 6:00 p.m. game at East Los Angeles College.

The Falcons, who have been in postseason bowl games four of the last six seasons, have not made the playoffs since 2011.

Leading 16-10 after sophomore linebacker Clarence Chaney (JSerra HS) sacked Hornets quarterback Jeremiah Green for a safety with 5:01 left in the fourth quarter. Regaining possession of the ball, the Falcons went three-and-out in just 42 seconds and punted the ball away. On the punt return, Cerritos was called for a personal foul and Fullerton started their drive at the Falcons 44-yard line.

On the first play, sophomore linebacker Anthony Irons (Buena Park HS) sacked quarterback Chris Lundsberg for a six-yard loss. On the next play, Lundsberg was able to air out a 46-yard completion and two plays later, Fullerton held a 17-16 lead with 2:31 remaining.

Needing a field goal to win the game, Cerritos drove to the 19-yard line, which set the table for Arreola and his game-winning field goal. On the drive, the Falcons converted a pair of first downs, with sophomore running back Josh Cason (Long Beach Poly HS) carrying the ball on both occasions. With time running out and the ball at the Fullerton 29-yard line, freshman quarterback Jeremiah Calvin (Mayfair HS) noticed that the Hornets cornerback was giving up extra room to freshman wide receiver Charles Clinton II (Long Beach Poly HS). Only seven seconds remained on the clock, and Calvin was able to hit Clinton for a quick 10-yard pass, putting the ball at the spot where Arreola booted his second field goal of the game.

Fulllerton opened the scoring on the night until the Falcons responded with a pair of second quarter touchdowns. Calvin tossed a four-yard scoring strike to Clinton, while sophomore Malachi Wright (Mayfair HS) made several moves to elude tacklers on his 23-yard touchdown reception.

In the second half, the Falcons began to grind out a run game in the fourth quarter, although their 16-play, 78-yard drive that burned 9:49 off the clock didn't result in any points. The offensive line dominated on that drive and included sophomores Alfonzo Leomiti (Los Alamitos HS), Rogelio Baca (Warren HS), Christopher Tufunga (Long Beach Jordan HS) and Tino Huckaby (Long Beach Poly HS), as well as freshman David Paulo (Mayfair HS). The first 13 plays on the ground went for positive yards, with only their fourth down attempt resulting in negative yardage.

Cason finished the night with 95 yards on 24 carries, with sophomore Nick Adimora (Mayfair HS/Eastern Washington University) pounding out 54 yards on 11 carries. As for Calvin, he completed 16-of-28 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns, while he also scrambled for 44 yards. Clinton and sophomore Saxon Va'a (Banning HS) each caught four passes for a combined 135 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Rocky Jack (Summer Creek, TX HS/Orange Coast College) had a solid all-around game, as he led the defensive with 11 tackles, a tackle for loss and pass break-up, with Chaney finishing with eight stops, two tackles for loss and a sack. The defense also had sophomore linebacker Adrian Castro (La Serna HS) record six tackles, as well as an interception and a quarterback hurry.

Photos by Daryl Peterson