Owls Finish Perfect Home Record With Rout of Long Beach

Glendora, CA -- The Citrus College Football team wrapped up a perfect 2013 record at home on Saturday afternoon with a 58-31 rout of visiting Long Beach City College. The 58 points were a program best, since the Owls scored 59 against Rio Hondo College way back in 1990.

It didn't take long for the Owls to find the scoreboard. On their second drive of the day, freshman quarterback Larry Cutbirth found freshman running back Emmanuel Pooler in the flat who took his pass 18 yards to the end zone. Long Beach would answer with a field goal and a touchdown before the end of the first quarter to briefly take a 10-7 lead, but that wouldn't last long.

Citrus got hot to start the second quarter. Freshman place kicker Jaime Toscano evened the game up with a 37 yard field goal, only to see the Owls take back the lead for good three minutes later, when Cutbirth carried it himself into the end zone from three yards away.

The Owls would make it 24-10 and then 31-10 on back to back possessions when Cutbirth found sophomore Robbie Haines in the back of the end zone for a three yard score and then Cutbirth hit sophomore running back Marquise Bias for an 11 yard pass and catch for a touchdown. Long Beach would score once more before the end of the first half, but the Owls had a comfortable 31-17 lead headed into the break.

Out of the half, Long Beach scored first, pulling to within a single score at 24-31, but the Owls never panicked rattling off three straight scores after that. The first came when Pooler ripped off a 50 yard touchdown run, only to be followed by a 28 yard TD run from Bias. Freshman running back Joseph Henderson also got in on the fun with a one yard touchdown plunge with 16 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. Long Beach would score again to open up the fourth, but the Owls got the final word when Pooler found the end zone yet again, this time on a dazzling 32 yard touchdown scamper.  

In the win, the Owls defense harassed the Long Beach City offense into six turnovers. Four interceptions and two fumbles, both recovered by the Owls. Citrus also held the Vikings to just 75 total yards rushing and just three yards a carry, compared to 273 yards rushing by the Owls and a 5.9 yard per carry average.

Cutbirth finished the day 17 of 33 for 224 yards and three touchdowns, and of course no interceptions. Pooler toted the ball 16 times for 146 yards and two scores, a third was added on his receiving touchdown. Bias was just behind him with 12 carries for 87 yards and a score. Sophomore Scott Calles led all receivers with four catches for 74 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore linebacker Maurice Dupleasis racked up a team high six tackles, including a half a tackle for a loss, and a pair of quarterback hurries. Fellow sophomore linebacker Jose Nunez had four tackles, including 1.5 for a loss and a pick. Freshman defensive back Charles Flowers had a pair of interceptions, and sophomore safety Herman Akins had three tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception, and a pair of pass break-ups.

With the win, Citrus improves to 6-3 on the year and 3-2 in Central Conference play. The Owls will close out the 2013 regular season next Saturday at Los Angeles Harbor College (0-9, 0-5). Kick-off is set for 6:00 PM.