The Citrus Owls football team started its season with two victories against Chaffey College and College of the Desert.
The Owls won their first game against Chaffey Sept. 4, winning by a score of 21-16, and their second game against College of the Desert on Sept. 11, winning by a score of 62-32.
Interim Head Football Coach Brandon Hayashi said he hopes the team will succeed in their next game against Grossmont at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at Citrus Stadium.
They hope to win by sticking to their assignment and alignment, avoiding penalties, avoiding contracting COVID-19 and keeping their bodies healthy.
Hayashi said the team experienced new COVID-19 challenges while training and playing such as wearing masks inside their helmets, testing twice weekly and limiting time together.
“A lot of athletes are mostly hands-on or visual learners, so it’s kind of tough when there’s no hands-on or legitimate visuals” for them, Hayashi said.
Kevin Puckett played football for the team between 2009 and 2011 and is now an assistant coach.
“It’s fun when you see the results, you know, when you prepare for something and the results are coming out the way you prepared for them,” Puckett said.
Shane Virnala, another assistant coach for the Owls, was emailed twice between Sept. 13 and Sept. 14 but did not respond for an interview.
