IRVINE— It has been nearly 20 years since Fullerton won a league title, but Friday night the Red Hawks looked the part of a champion.
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They remained undefeated in Kappa League play with a 47-20 victory over a defending CIF Southern Section champion, Portola.
Fullerton’s special teams gave up a 97-yard kickoff return to Portola’s Galileo Chen in the second quarter, and the Red Hawks’ second-team gave up a touchdown in the final minute.
But otherwise? It was pretty one-sided.
Fullerton improved to 6-2 overall, 3-0 in league. Portola dropped to 5-3, 1-2.
“It feels great, a real honor to help lead this team to achieve greatness,” said Fullerton three-year starter Cyrus Aviles, who starred on both sides of the ball. “Last year our goal was to go from 0-10 to playoffs, and this year our goal is to win a championship.”
A league championship is certainly within sight. The Red Hawks are in the driver’s seat.
Sergio Andrade completed 7 of 11 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns, of 44 yards to Isaac Garza and 31 yards to Gage Connet.
Ethan Edwards completed both of his passes, including a 29-yarder to Garza early in the fouth quarter to go up, 47-13.
Aviles led a 246-yard ground game by carrying 22 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Aviles was ably complemented by Logan Moore, who rushed eight times for 89 yards and a 23-yard score.
The special teams, which blocked a PAT, also scored, getting a safety, and Liam Bengard booted a 26-yard field goal.
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The defense? It gave up a score on Portola’s first drive when Mason Mapstone busted loose for 47 yards, then clamped down. Fullerton intercepted two passes, courtesy of Evan Tellez-Soria and Aiden Grajeda, and Aviles added a sack.
Fullerton outgained Portola, 396-269.
“The whole thing starts with Cyrus, he sets the tone for us,” Fullerton coach Peter Karavedas said. “He plays offense, defense, and special teams. He’s a physical runner and sets the tone for us. Everything starts with running the ball physical, and that starts with Cyrus and the offensive line.”
That line consisted of Maeson Washington, Parker Enloe, David Salgado, Andrew Grajeda Jr., and Noah Alvarado. Fullerton rushed for 45 times for 246 yards.
“We knew that Portola was really well coached, really disciplined, and they would be dialed in for a lot of what we want to do, and it’s going to be about who was going to be more physical up front,” Karavedas said. “We wanted to establish ourselves, especially in the second half, and felt like this is really where we can get going.”
Fullerton outgained Portola in the first half, 261-120, en route to a 24-13 advantage.
The only reason the score wasn’t more one-sided is because of Galileo Chen’s 97-yard kickoff return for Portola after Fullerton’s Liam Bengard had kicked a 26-yard field goal with 6:06 left in the half.
Fullerton wasn’t done. With time ticking down, Andrade’s deep pass to Gage Connet yielded a 31-yard score, and Bengard’s PAT made it 24-13.
Fullerton opened the scoring on its first possession, driving 59 yards in seven plays as Logan Moore did the honors from 23 yards.
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