Citrus Bowls Over Antelope Valley, 45-13, With Big First Half

So much for the Southern California Bowl.

The way Antelope Valley College was bullied around by host Citrus in a 45-13 Foothill Conference loss Saturday night, the Marauders might be lucky if they receive an invitation to any bowl game.

Antelope Valley (8-2, 6-2 in conference play) could have tied Citrus for the conference title with a win--and guaranteed itself the role as host of the Southern California Bowl--but the Marauders were overwhelmed by a Citrus team that has now won eight games in a row after losing its first two.

Citrus gained 417 yards in total offense, including 281 yards on the ground. John White, who entered the game with 743 yards rushing, gained 218 yards in 29 carries for the Owls.

Antelope Valley also struggled on offense, compiling only 182 total yards, including four yards in 31 carries.

“I’m still trying to put my finger on what happened,” said Marauder tailback Steve Miller, who rushed for a team-high 20 yards in nine carries. “We just made too many mistakes. Too many mental mistakes.”

Citrus, which lost to Riverside (22-7) and Glendale, Ariz., (7-6) in its first two games, dominated play after wide receiver-running back Ervie Barnes coughed up the football on the opening kickoff and Antelope Valley recovered at the Owl 28-yard line.

The Marauders scored four plays later on Tony Simmons’ two-yard sweep around left end, but Citrus would score 38 unanswered points before the end of the third quarter.

After gift-wrapping Antelope Valley’s first score, Citrus scored on four of its next five possessions to take a 24-7 halftime lead.

The Owls rolled up 250 yards (128 running, 122 passing) in the first half against a Marauder defense that had limited opponents to an average of only 249 yards a game.

After Antelope Valley’s opening touchdown, Citrus marched 71 yards in 15 plays--capped by Barnes’ two-yard run.

After forcing Antelope Valley to punt, the Owls marched 53 yards to the Marauder six before settling for Mike Reyes’ 24-yard field goal and a 10-7 lead.

After blocking Jason Camp’s 45-yard field goal attempt--which was set up by Joe Honora’s 23-yard interception return--Citrus engineered a seven-play, 58-yard drive capped by Frank Solchaga’s four-yard touchdown pass to Craig Peterson with 6 minutes left in the second quarter.