The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word dynasty as “a family or group that maintains power for several generations.” The sports world has seen a number of dynasties through the years, whether it was the Boston Celtics in the 50’s and 60’s, the Pittsburgh Steeler’s of the 70’s, or the New York Yankees in the 90’s; dynasties are an integral part of the sports lexicon.
With four Western States Conference Championships in the last four years, the Citrus College Fighting Owl football team has staked their claim for the rights to use the term dynasty in regards to their program.
“This is why we are here,” Head Football Coach Kevin Emerson said. “The reason why we coach is to win, and we will keep pushing forward.” With that in mind, the 2007 Citrus College football season promises to be as exciting as the past four years with plenty of starters returning on a stalwart defense, and a potential explosive offense.
Defense
The key to the 2007 season will be a stout defense that returns its top two tacklers of last season and the reigning WSC South Defensive Player of the Year. “This defense is the most mature group of guys we have ever had,” Emerson said. “We have a lot of sophomores with a lot of potential.”
Headlining that group is a duo of linebackers and a trio of defensive lineman. In the middle are the team’s two leading tacklers Jason Assanah and Demarcus Flanagan. Assanah was the team leading tackler last season recording 54.5 tackles including 46 solo tackles. His battery mate, Flanagan, is the reigning WSC South Defensive Player of the Year. Flanagan in just ten games as a linebacker recorded 45 tackles, including 10 tackles for a loss. Flanagan also proved that he was more than capable of dropping back in coverage as he recorded one interception and three pass break-ups.
Up on the line are three big time players ready to make their mark. Leading the way will be Devin Johnson, who recorded 15 tackles and three sacks for the Owls last season. Johnson has also been receiving plenty of attention from the four-year schools as he has received over six offers from Division I colleges. Helping Johnson out on the line this season will be Zach Williams a transfer from the University of Buffalo, and Brian Giles a returnee from last years squad. Last season Giles recorded 17.5 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss.
Offense
The lone question mark for the Fighting Owls going into the 2007 season may be the offense. After losing Bryan Waggener, a two year starter, to the University of Florida, the Fighting Owls have a big hole to fill. Citrus also lost a few starters on one of the strongest offensive lines in Southern California last year. Despite the question marks, there are loads of potential for this offensive squad. “This offense has the ability to be striking,” Emerson said.
Going into the season there will be a battle at the quarterback position between sophomore John Garcia and red-shirt freshman Travis Gowan. Garcia spent last year behind Waggener, and appeared in seven games for the Fighting Owls. Garcia posted a quarterback rating of 98.69 while completing 50% of his passes. Gowan comes to Citrus after red-shirting last season at Division I-AA Portland State. Gowan, originally from Arcadia High School, had a storied high school career where he was the Pacific League Offensive MVP as a senior.
Whoever ends up behind center will most definitely have a security blanket standing five yards behind him, in sophomore running back Leonard Mason. Mason ran for over 1,000 yards last season, and caught a number of passes out of the backfield on his way to over 1,400 all-purpose yards. “Leonard is a great running back, but the key will be the offensive line, where we have holes,” Emerson said.
Although the Wide Receiver’s corps loses their best receiver last year, Charles Lewis, they bring in one of their deepest receiving groups in recent memory. “The wide receivers we have this year, posses a lot of great speed,” Emerson said. “This will allow us to spread it out wide this year, more so than in years past.”
If the quarterbacks can’t seem to find a wide receiver open, they will have three big targets coming across the middle in the form of tight ends Phillip Kerber, Tyson Hetzer, and Chris Lacount. “We have three quality tight ends,” Emerson said. “Because we have three viable options we can run more two tight end sets this season.”
Schedule
The 2007 schedule will be on of the toughest schedules in recent memory. With the WSC South being realigned in the off-season, the Fighting Owls only face four teams that they saw in the 2006 regular season, and an interdivisional match-up with a team they faced in the playoffs.
Citrus kicks off their schedule with the always tough Orange Coast College of the Mission Conference. The home tilt, which kicks off at 7:00 p.m., will pit one of the Mission’s best against one of the WSC’s best.
After opening the season at home, the Fighting Owls hit the road for a contest with Victor Valley College who was 9-1 last season. After the road trip Citrus will find themselves back under the lights of Citrus stadium as they kick off their conference slate against Compton College.
After kicking off their WSC South games, the Fighting Owls will be on the road in back to back weeks as they travel to Santa Monica College and LA Valley College. When Citrus gets back home on October 13th, they will have a rematch awaiting them, as Bakersfield College comes calling for a 3:00 p.m. match-up. This promises to be a grudge match, as the Fighting Owls were knocked out in the 1st round of the SoCal playoffs last year by the Renegades.
With more than half of their ten game schedule behind them, the Fighting Owls will finish their schedule with two more at home and two more away. Things kick off with a home game against LA Pierce, and then back to back road games at Ventura College and Moorpark College. Things round out with a home game against perennial conference rival Glendale College on Saturday November 10th at 1:00 p.m.
“Glendale is always a great rivalry for us, as we go back and forth every year,” Emerson said. “We have a tough schedule this season, but still a schedule that can still allow us to succeed.”
With 2007 being the last season of WSC Football, before all of Southern California combines into the Southern California Football Conference in 2008, the Fighting Owls have one last season to cement their legacy in WSC Football lore. With a stalwart defense, and plenty of explosive parts on offense, the sky can be the limit for the 2007 Fighting Owls football squad as they continue their quest to define their dynasty.