Citrus College football knows internal leadership and brotherhood are what is going to lead them to a successful season.
Their preseason has been filled with film sessions, time spent in the weight room and hours out on the field all in preparation for the upcoming season.
After last year’s season ended with eight wins and three losses, slot receiver Manuel Pulido said the expectations are high and the team is looking to make it all the way to the championship.
“We want to go to playoffs, we want to win in playoffs and we want to win state,” Pulido said.
The Owls exit their huddles saying the word championship as a reminder of what they want to accomplish. The word echoes throughout the practice serving as a reminder of the goal they have been working toward since spring of 2024.
“We are going 10-0,” Kyle Ferm, a linebacker for the Owls, said.
Despite aspirations to win a state championship, the team focuses their attention on their matchup each week to attain wins that will get them there.
“We focus on the present. Take it week by week,” Pulido said.
The Owls endured a long and hard preseason that kicked off with their fall camp.
“First two weeks of August it sucks, it’s 6 a.m., super hot and the coaches are weeding out who is about it and who is not,” Ferm said. “So I think going through that every day and seeing your boys every day kind of forces you to depend on each other because you are in it together.”
The combination of strong bonds and strong players is the biggest asset for the Owls.
Tight end Sal Morales Jr. has witnessed that combination first hand.
Morales Jr. said at the beginning of summer the team would stay after practice and run their own drills so they could get better in their skill sets and get to know each other on a deeper level.
“During spring and summer everybody has been popping off,” he said.
Morales Jr. said the offensive coordinator Shane Virnala is “putting in new schemes” that will create a more explosive offense and opportunities for big plays.
On the other side of the ball, Ferm said the defense is a strong point for the Owls.
“We are really physical and have a good mindset.” Ferm said.
The foundation of strong personal relationships is spread throughout the team.
Pulido said building a bond with his teammates, who he also calls his brothers, strongly unifies the team and translates to how they perform on the field.
Ferm uses his relationships with fellow players to try and push them to a higher level.
“The coaches can yell and they can punish us but at some point it has got to come down to us taking responsibility for ourselves,” Ferm said.
That brotherhood allows them to support each other and give tough love when it is needed.
“People all throughout the team that do not even consider themselves leaders all step up to each other,” Pulido said. “We are harsh with each other. We have to take information and not get hurt about it. We are all trying to improve each other.”
The transparency within the relationships reduces tension and creates a player-led culture throughout the whole team.
Receiving advice and corrections from fellow players is just a part of the routine, Pulido said.
“It’s better if you hear it from a brother because you know he is looking out for you and you can trust him on and off the field,” Pulido said.
Citrus gears up to play its first game of the season at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at College of the Canyons.
“We want to beat the breaks off of them,” Pulido said.
The full season schedule can be found here.
