Citrus College (0-2) suffered a 39-36 loss in its home opener against Saddleback College (2-0) on Sept. 5, leaving Citrus winless after its first two games.
Throughout the first two quarters of the game, Citrus was rattled. Quarterback Connor Underhill threw two interceptions in the first half, one being a pick six. This led to Saddleback going up 20-7 by the end of the half, after Citrus’ Lorenza Simmons got the Owls on the scoreboard with an 82-yard touchdown.
The third quarter did not get better for Citrus, and they let up another touchdown early in the third. Neither team scored for the rest of the quarter, allowing Saddleback to go into the last quarter with a 27-7 lead.
In the fourth quarter, however, things started looking hopeful for Citrus. The fire within them lit, they scored 29 points in the quarter, while Saddleback scored an additional 12.
Simmons yet again showed up when the Owls needed him most, scoring two more touchdowns, from 52 and 64 yards respectively. This led to the sophomore receiver breaking two Citrus single game records. The first was most all-purpose Yards in a game, and the other most receiving yards in a game. He finished the game with 10 receptions, 301 yards, 3 touchdowns.
This performance helped Citrus rally throughout the fourth quarter, going from down 20 to down only a single score.
Saddleback, however, was able to respond with a game-clinching field goal drive to end the Owls’ comeback hopes.
Citrus looks to bounce back in its next game versus San Diego Mesa at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at Citrus Stadium.
