The Citrus College football team logged a record-tying preseason win at home against the Compton Tartars on Sept. 8.
The Owls’ 73-points to the Tartars’ 0 tied two Citrus College records for highest score and largest margin of victory.
Citrus sophomore running back James Brown scored two touchdowns with 79 rushing yards.
The Tartars’ quarterback Mustafa Muhammad quickly threw an interception in his first possession.Throughout the game Muhammad struggled to complete a pass — he threw two completions for five yards and was intercepted four times.
Freshman defensive back Derrion Warner caught the first interception and ran it for a touchdown.
Warner attributed his defensive success to “team cohesiveness.”
“Communicating with the team was the way to go,” Warner said. “Players can make great plays, but as a team we must be willing to sacrifice.”
In the second half, both teams tackled more forcefully. Referees threw flags for excessive roughness. Players on the sidelines screamed and jumped as collisions became audible from the stands.
Owls freshman running back Marcus Knight said determination gave his team the confidence to win. But he emphasized looking ahead.
“We can’t become complacent,” Knight said.
Both Citrus and Compton have many new recruits. The Compton offensive line coach Jason Watson said his young team is making adjustments.
“We didn’t have the advantage today, but you can’t win them all,” Watson said. “A lot of our players are new and trying to work with the plays.”
At 6 p.m. on Sept. 15 the undefeated Owls head to Palomar College for their first regular season game.
