Owls Comeback Thwarted on Final Drive
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Citrus (1-2) | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 |
|
Golden West (2-1) | 13 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 36 |
Costa Mesa, CA -- The Citrus College Football team suffered its second road loss of the year on Saturday evening when they fell 36-30 against Golden West College. The Owls had a chance to tie the game up late, but fumbled on the Rustler 18 yard line with just over a minute to go, sealing their fate.
The game would prove to be a back and forth affair with Golden West taking the early lead scoring less than six minutes into the contest. Citrus would answer before the end of the first when a four yard pass from sophomore Larry Cutbirth to sophomore Errol Romney capped a 13 play 75 yard touchdown drive that made it 7-6 in favor of the Owls.
Golden West would go back on top just before the end of the first, but the Owls retaliated with another touchdown pass from Cutbirth to Romney, this one from 10 yards away that made it 14-13 with 7:23 to go in the first half. The Rustlers would proceed to score 17 unanswered points over the rest of the second quarter and the opening minutes of the third to take a seemingly commanding 30-14 lead with 10:28 to go in the third, but the Owls weren't done as they attempted a late comeback.
The comeback got off on the right foot when Romney caught another 10 yard touchdown pass from Cutbirth that made it 22-30 after Romney helped convert the two-point attempt. Citrus would then tie the game up via a four yard touchdown run by freshman Robert Gonzalez and another two-point conversion, this time when Cutbirth found sophomore Demetre Smith.
With the game all tied up at 30 and just over 11 minutes to go, Golden West embarked on a 10 play 78 yard drive that ate up over four minutes of clock and culminated in the Rustlers taking a 36-30 lead. On the ensuing drive, Citrus would take the ball from their own 30 to the Rustler 18, where the ball was stripped and taken back by Golden West ending the Owls' threat and chances of winning the game.
Romney would finish the night having caught nine passes for 85 yards and those three touchdowns. Sophomore defensive back Marquice O'Leary had a team high nine tackles, while sophomore linebacker Terrance Manderville added eight.
With the loss, Citrus falls to 1-2 on the year. The Owls are back out on the road next weekend when they travel to take on El Camino College at 4:00 PM.
