Quarterback Jimmy Coy was scrambling in the pocket looking for an open receiver. Will Bullock was that receiver. Bullock was running for the end zone when Coy threw the ball deep. Leaving the cornerback behind, Bullock dove forward, hauling in a 46-yard pass to put the Warriors at the Chaffey 11-yard line.
“I was really pumped that I came down with the football and just really glad that it happened,” Bullock said.
The final score was 30-15, which resulted in EC’s second conference win. The Warriors are now 6-0 and are 2-0 in the Central Conference. EC is currently No. 3 in the state and No. 4 in the nation.
EC will host College of the Desert Saturday, who come into Murdock Stadium with a record of 5-1
“They have a very good defense and they’re real solid on offense,” coach John Featherstone said. “It could be the best team we’ve played.”
Chaffey was scoreless the first three quarters while EC ran up the score, scoring 30 points. The Panthers, who went into the game with a record of 4-1, finally managed to score two touchdowns and also made a two point conversion in the fourth quarter.
“We shut them out for three and a half quarters so that’s a good thing. They were the top rushing team in the conference,” Featherstone, said. “I thought we were flying around all night making a lot of good plays. I think we took the heart out of them pretty early.”
The Warriors got ahead early, but did not score a touchdown until Coy’s pass to Bullock at the end of the third quarter. EC had to rely on kicker Brian Blumberg to score its first nine points.
“Unfortunately, our first three series we got in the red zone and we had to settle for field goals which is very uncharacteristic of our team,” Featherstone said. “We’ve always been really good inside the five-yard line, punching it in with our running game.”
Having to kick three field goals didn’t bother Brian Blumberg.
“I wasn’t nervous, just kind of amused that our offense would get so close and leave me with a little chip shot,” Blumberg said. “But it’s all right, I don’t mind taking the three field goals, it looks good on my resume. I just wish we could get some touchdowns if we’re going to be on the two-yard line anyways.”
After the first quarter, Bullock started to catch passes for huge gains. He finished the game catching seven passes gaining 131 yards and scoring one touchdown for the Warriors.
Coy and Bullock have developed a partnership over the last few weeks.
“He knows I can get past the defensive backs so he just throws it up when he thinks that I’m open,” Bullock said.
Featherstone said he believes that a third receiver must be added to the combination of Coy and Bullock.
“That has been a good combo and we’re getting Kembrell Thompkins involved more,” Featherstone said. “We’re still trying to find that third go-to guy.”
Ken McRoyal was in line to be that third guy, but has been out for the past three weeks with a thigh bruise. In his place, Thompkins has been showing some skill. He had five catches for 80 yards gained and scored one touchdown against Chaffey.
Freshman linebacker led the defense Reuben Willis had two pass deflections, six tackles and two sacks, as the Warriors shut the Panthers out through the first three quarters.
“Our coaches were telling us they had the No. 1 rusher in our conference so we just looked at that as a challenge and our coaches put us in the right position to shut them out pretty much until the fourth quarter,” Willis said.
