Glendora, CA (Football) -- When you try and compete with the best of the best, it’s tough to stay neck and neck when you give up big plays. Unfortunately for Citrus, that’s exactly what happened, as the Fighting Owls lost 35-12 to #5 El Camino on Saturday night.
The Warriors would score five times in the contest, and all of them but one came from 28 yards or more out. The first score was a 37 yard touchdown pass from Matt Simms to Kenbrell Thompkins. Thompkins would score once more with 28 seconds to go in the first half, when he hauled in another touchdown pass this time a 42 yard variety from Bo Napoleon.
Trailing 14-0 at the half Citrus needed a spark in the second half, instead, after the defense forced a three and out, the Fighting Owl offense fumbled the ball on a bad snap, giving the Warriors the ball back with great field position. On the very next play, Napoleon found Keenan Smith for a 28 yard score giving El Camino a three touchdown lead.
Citrus would come back on the very next drive and score thanks to great field position set-up by a Brandon Stansell 42 yard kick-off return to the 50 yard line. Eight plays later quarterback Byron Ingram scored on a QB sneak over the top of the pile on second and goal from less than a yard to the end zone.
After that El Camino took over though as they scored twice more, one on a Ken Ashley 15 yard scamper into the end zone, and the other a 66-yard pass and catch from Napoleon to Joseph Rose. With the game well out of reach, Citrus would score late in the fourth quarter when Ingram found Tyra Waits for a four yard score, but by then it was too little too late for Citrus.
Ingram would finish his day 28 of 46 for 308 yards, with Waits as his favorite recipient. Waits caught a team high seven passes for 57 yards and a score. Defensively, Citrus would be led by Gabriel Aquino who recorded seven tackles and a pass break-up, and Namari Flentroy who had arguably his best game of the season, with seven tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble.
With the loss, Citrus falls to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in Central Conference play. The Fighting Owls have just one game remaining on their 2009 schedule as they play host to Riverside City College next Saturday in Citrus College Stadium. Kick-off is set for 1:00 PM.
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