Sophomore wide receiver Ricky Carrigan Jr. believed mental lapses were a factor in the Cerritos College football team’s 38-14 loss to Fullerton on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Cerritos football field.

“We didn’t have as good a performance as we wanted,” he said. “We were not there mentally.”

Following a 50-19 blowout victory in its season opener Saturday, Sept. 7, the football team failed to build off its momentum as they let the game against Fullerton escape them from the beginning.

Fullerton got off to a quick start as they quickly had a 35-7 edge in the second quarter of the game after a touchdown by Jose Escobar.

Freshman tight end Ainslie Johnson noted the quick start for Fullerton was too much for Cerritos.

“First half, they came out and smacked us in the mouth pretty much. In the second half, we started to bounce back as we held them off better.”

He added, “We could have played with more intensity and come out more fired up. (Fullerton) seemed more fired up than we were so we can’t let that happen.”

A touchdown by sophomore running back Elijhaa Penny trimmed Fullerton’s lead down to 35-14 late in the third quarter.

A field goal by Fullerton in the fourth quarter extended the lead to 38-14 and allowed them to come out with the victory.

“We could have done better and execute(d) more of our plays,” freshman wide receiver Nathan Miranda said. “We have to be more aggressive and put in the hard work for next time.”

The football team is looking to put this loss behind them as it focuses on its next game against Mt. San Antonio.

“I’m looking forward to next week,” Johnson said. “We just got to have short-term memory and forget about this loss because (Mt. San Antonio) is going to come out and be ready to play.”

Added Carrigan Jr., “We have to reset, focus up and get back to practicing because it all starts at practice.”

The matchup against Mt. San Antonio will be an away contest Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m.