Glendora, CA (Football) -- If all you did was look at the stat sheet following Saturday afternoon’s football game between Citrus College and College of the Desert, you might assume that Citrus would have won.
The Fighting Owls racked up more yards, accrued more first downs, committed fewer penalties, and controlled the time of possession. All of that wouldn’t matter though as Citrus didn’t win the battle in the two most important categories. The Fighting Owls were 1 of 5 in Red Zone chances compared to Desert being 2 of 2, and Citrus mustered just 10 points all game long, while the Roadrunners scored 17.
Things didn’t start of well for the Owls as Desert took less than four minutes to get seven points on the board. Citrus answered by driving down to the Roadrunners 15 yard line, but Citrus stalled out, eventually missing on a 32 yard field goal attempt.
On the very next possession Citrus marched right back down the field but again stalled in the red zone, and again missing another field goal this time a 30 yard attempt that was blocked by Desert.
One play after the block, Desert quarterback JD Bounantony completed a 46 yard touchdown pass to Kody McNear giving the Roadrunners a 14-0 lead. Desert continued to keep Citrus at bay scoring again on their next drive, this time thanks to a 34 yard field goal by Brett Symonds.
With COD scoring on three of their first four possessions, the Citrus defense hunkered down and forced the Roadrunners to punt their next two offensive trips down the field. The second time COD punted, Citrus took over the ball on their own 24 with just 1:56 to play in the half.
The Fighting Owls marched down the field and scored as the horn sounded when Byron Ingram hooked up with Tyra Waits for a 21 yard score. With momentum swinging their way, Citrus took the ball in the third quarter and picked up where they left off, marching down the and getting down to COD’s six yard line. Citrus stalled yet again though, and for the third time that game missed a field goal.
From that point on neither team would muster much of a drive until Citrus got the ball back with eight minutes left in the contest. With the game coming down to the final minutes Citrus commenced on yet another drive getting down to the Roadrunner 19 yard line.
After failing to get a first down, Citrus would send out the field goal unit for their fourth try, this time in search of a 36 yard attempt, the longest of the day. After going 0 for 3 in his previous attempts freshman Levi Molina drilled his fourth try and got Citrus to within a touchdown.
Needing one final stand, the Citrus defense went out and forced a three and out getting the offense back the ball with 1:20 left on the clock. Unfortunately for the Fighting Owls the COD defense returned the favor as Ingram’s final pass was intercepted by Benjamin Herandez to seal the win for Desert.
In the loss, Ingram threw for 290 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore Tyra Waits was Ingram’s favorite target as he hauled in a game high eight catches for 78 yards and one score. Defensively, Citrus was led by sophomore’s Nick Augustyn and Jesse Kirkland. The twosome combined for 14 tackles, including five for a loss.
With the loss, Citrus falls to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in Central Conference play, while Desert improves to 3-2 and 1-0 in conference play. The Fighting Owls will face a tough road the next few weeks as three of their next four opponents are ranked in the Southern California Top Ten starting with next weeks game at Mt. SAC. Kick-off is set for 1:00 PM.
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