Owls Upset Grossmont On the Road

El Cajon, CA (Football) -- In what is arguably the biggest win for the Owls in the Ponciano era, the Citrus College Football team hit the road on Saturday afternoon and headed back home with a big win. The 20th ranked Owls upset host and 15th ranked Grossmont 36-22.

The Owls made a statement from the get go, forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff. The Griffins recovered, but they wouldn't be as lucky two plays later when they fumbled again and Citrus sophomore Justin Robles jumped on it.

With the ball deep in Grossmont territory, the Owls would start slow. It took a fourth down conversion for Citrus to get it going, and immediately after that, sophomore Andre Holmes took the ball to the house from 25 yards out to make it 7-0.

Grossmont would answer on their next possession, making it 6-7 after a failed extra point attempt. Citrus answered in kind though, marching 82 yards in nine plays and going up 14-6 after Holmes found the end zone again, this time from three yards out.

Neither team would put any more points on the board until the second quarter. That's when Grossmont pulled back to within a point 14-13. Again though, the Owls came out and punched back using 10 plays to go 80 yards, getting a 24 yard touchdown pass and catch from freshman Tyler Pruszynski to sophomore Michael Ball that made it 21-13.

The Owls would keep the Griffins at bay for a few drives thereafter, but a turnover late in the first half gave Grossmont great field possession with just over a minute to go. The Griffins made good on it, but failed to convert on the extra point thanks to a bad snap and the Owls went into the break up 21-19.

In the third quarter, it was a defensive show. The Owls were held to 50 total yards in the opening quarter of the second half, and went 0 for 3 on third down conversions. Likewise, the Citrus defense held strong surrendering more yards but keeping the Griffins off the board.

That would change on Grossmont's second drive in the fourth quarter. After starting out on their own 15, the Griffins marched down to the Citrus 10. The Owls defense came up big though, giving up just a yard on the first rush, taking advantage of a Grossmont penalty that pushed them back five yards, and then forcing back to back incompletes to bring up fourth down. Grossmont then settled for a 30 yard field goal that got them back to within one at 22-21 with just over seven minutes to play.

It wouldn't take long for the Owls to strike back. Facing a 3rd and 14 from their own 46 yard line, freshman Vincent Hernandez completed a pass to freshman Scott Calles who took it all the way to the end zone. On the extra point attempt Hernandez found freshman tight end Robbie Haines on the two point conversion pushing the Citrus lead to a full seven points as they went up 29-22.

Fortunately, Citrus wouldn't need it. On Grossmont's next possession the defense came up big again, when Robles picked off a pass in Griffin territory. After the offense coughed up the ball on their ensuing possession, the defense then went out and got a four and out. On the very next drive, the offense put the game away for good when Hernandez connected with sophomore Isaiah Kepley from 28 yards out to make it 36-22 Citrus.

Pruszynski would finish the day 21 of 36 for 232 yards and a touchdown. Hernandez meanwhile completed six of his 11 attempts for a pair of touchdowns and 116 yards. Sophomore JoJo Curiel caught a team high five passes, but Michael Ball led the Owls with 78 yards receiving. Holmes meanwhile finished the day with 20 carries for 74 yards and a pair of scores.

On the defensive side of the ball, freshman Justin Robles and sophomore Rodney Mathews led the way. Robles had seven tackles (all solo), two tackles for a loss, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Mathews meanwhile had a game high 10 tackles.

With the win, the Owls move to 3-0 for the first time since the mid 70's. Citrus' road doesn't get any easier, and as a matter of fact, the Owls will likely face the toughest test of the 2012 season next weekend in Citrus Stadium. Citrus hosts the #1 team in the entire country when Mt. SAC pays a visit to Glendora. Kick-off is set for 1:00 PM.