FOOTBALL: Five Owls Commit to Four-Year Schools

Five Citrus College football players have committed to continue their athletic careers at four-year schools. 

Quarterback Austin Zavala and outside linebacker Abood Elias will both play at Campbellsville University, kicker Sean Bailey, Jr. heads to Abilene Christian University, offensive lineman Richard Miranda committed to Upper Iowa University and offensive lineman Raul Aldana stays close as he joins the roster at Azusa Pacific University. 

Aldana played in all 10 games for the Owls as an offensive lineman, trying to limit the opponents' access to Zavala.

"I remember my first year going to Citrus right after high school, I quit the team," said Aldana. "I didn't know if it was worth playing and going to school at the same time. Thanks to Coach Ponce [Ron Ponciano] and Coach Frank Farwell, they brought me back because they knew this is what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I thank God for the amazing teammates and coaches I had at Citrus because they made me love the game even more and helped me get to where I am today!"

Aldana chose APU because of the atmosphere on campus and it's close to where the Covina, Calif., native grew up.

"It's a win win," said Aldana. "I've had so many coaches and family attend APU and none of them had anything bad to say about it. I'm just glad I was blessed to be in the position I am in."

Fellow offensive line Owl Miranda will also continue his playing career, though traveling a bit from hometown Claremont, Calif.

"My time at Citrus College was definitely a memorable one," said Miranda. "There were definitely hardships along the way that have made me a better person not just on the field but also in my own life. The coaches really helped and pushed me through these hardships. They saw more potential in me than I saw in myself and they pushed me to reach that potential. I could not have asked for better foundations to advance my football career past high school. I know whole heartedly that they will continue to be there for me for my future and that they have set me up to be successful at Upper Iowa University."

Miranda joins the Peacocks as a junior, hoping to build on Upper Iowa's last year where it grabbed the program's first win over the University of Minnesota Duluth, 23-13, who was receiving votes in the AFCA Top 25 at the time of the game.

"The coaches at Upper Iowa have told me how they do things over there and I immediately bought in," said Miranda. "They made me feel like a part of their family without even meeting any of the coaches or players in person yet. The talks with the coaching staff and players made me feel like I already belong there. I am going to be forever grateful for the lessons that I learned at Citrus and cannot wait to continue on to this next chapter in my life." 

Elias finished the year with 17 tackles, including nine solo efforts, to average 1.9 per game. In the Owls' 21-0 victory over Victor Valley, the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native finished with three solo tackles and assisted on two others.

"One thing that I learned from Citrus football is if you want something, you got to chase it no matter how crazy it sounds or how long it will take," said Elias. "There's a quote that says, 'Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.' That quote pushed me a lot and made me find a way no matter what."

Bailey finished the year with 22 points-after-touchdown and kicked a 25-yard long field goal. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native finished the season with an 81 P-A-T percentage. 

Zavala led the Owls with a 48.5-percent completion rate, throwing 113 completions for 1,563 yards. The Chino Hills, Calif., native had 14 touchdowns on the year, including running in one of his own in the final game of the season.