Citrus Football Whoops Whimpering Wildcats in One Way Win

The gridiron giants of Citrus College opened up the 2018 season Saturday, with a lopsided walloping of host West LA. The Owls started the year coming off a rough 2017 campaign, where they went a disappointing 3-7. However, the total number of points separating Citrus from its opponents last year in losses was just 29. In their wins, the Owls still only had a 20 point total advantage over their opponents. Well 2018 is clearly a different year, as the Owls handed West LA a painful early season loss, topping the Wildcats 52-13. An interesting note: in 2017, it took 6 full games for the Owls to reach 52 points. 

Saturday's game saw a completely new look for the Owls, with the offense piling on 500 total yards with 186 net yards passing and an impressive 314 net yards in their ground game. The Owl defense notched 4 sacks, 3 interceptions and a forced fumble, including a pick 6 by defensive back Derrion Warner. 

Austin Zavala, a Freshman Quarterback from Chino Hills, passed for 127 yards on a remarkable 11-13 completion rate, and scored not 1…not 2… not 3… but 4 rushing touchdowns. 

The Owl backfield came at West LA with several different looks, with 8 different backs posting a total of 349 rushing yards (gross). Marcus Knight ran for 147 yards on 13 carries for an average of 11.3 yards; James Brown carried the ball 14 times, pushing his way forward to 91 yards on the day. Bryce French and Justyn Alexander both added TD's. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Levi Harris led all tacklers with 6 total, followed closely by Grant Trueman, Joseph Castillo and DJ Allen, who each chipped in 4 stops. Harris, Allen, Henry Karimu and Jonathan Shelley all charted a sack each, on the day. 

Citrus will open up its home season this Saturday as they take on visiting Compton College. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM.