Closing Time

Torrance, CA (Football) -- The Citrus College Football team took care of business when it mattered most on Saturday evening at El Camino College during closing time. The Owls scored 15 unanswered in the fourth quarter en route to a 32-18 win against the Warriors.

El Camino got on the board first scoring on their opening drive. The Citrus offense responded by driving deep down in to Warrior territory, but the drive ended on El Camino's seven yard line when freshman quarterback Bernard Porter was intercepted in the end zone.

The ball would stay down in El Camino territory over the next few possessions, but Citrus wasn't able to capitalize until they pinned the Warriors deep and the special teams did the scoring. As El Camino was looking to punt the ball away, the Owls blocked the kick and El Camino recovered in their end zone making it 7-2.

The Owls offense would finally start clicking late in the half. Citrus used 11 plays and nearly five minutes of clock to go 53 yards and pick up their first offensive score of the game when Porter connected with sophomore Isaiah Kepley from three yards away that made it 9-7 and gave the Owls their first lead of the game.

El Camino quickly answered though getting a 30 yard field goal with just 19 seconds left to put the Warriors back up 10-9 at the break.

In the second half it was all Citrus. The Owls started things off in the third quarter, taking up over five minutes of clock on their first drive and closing it out with Porter hitting freshman Robbie Haines from six yards away to make it 17-10 after Porter carried the ball into the end zone for a two point conversion.

The Warriors would go back on top late in the third quarter when they got a three yard run and two points conversion to go up 18-17, but from that point forward the Citrus defense shut the Warriors down.

With the defense doing their part, the Owls' offense continued to step up. Citrus took the lead back early in the fourth quarter with a 94 yard drive that took just four plays. The cou de grace would come when Porter hooked up with sophomore Michael Ball for a 38 yard touchdown catch and run. The Owls would also convert another two point conversion and when it was all said and done, Citrus was back on top 25-18.

The defense continued to shut down the Warriors and the offense put the finishing touches on the game late in the quarter when Citrus finished another long drive with another long pass and catch from Porter to Ball, this time from 20 yards away.

Citrus dominated the game through the air, outgaining the Warriors 319 to 60. Citrus did give up 215 yards on the ground, but the Owls committed six few penalties and turned the ball over just once as they won their sixth game of the year.

Porter finished the day 23 of 30 for four touchdowns and 319 yards passing. Sophomore Jo Jo Curiel caught a team high seven passes all for 77 yards. Kepley gained a team high 82 yards, and Ball had four catches for a total of 73 yards and those two scores. On the defensive side of the ball freshman Justin Robles had a team high six tackles, while sophomore Rodney Mathews had five and a pick.

With the win, Citrus improves to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in Central Conference Play. The Owls will be back out on the road next weekend when they take on Long Beach City College at Memorial Stadium in Long Beach. Kick-off is set for 1:00 PM.