Glendale Puts the Squeeze on Citrus With Comeback

There’s nothing like a little Citrus early in the season to get the juices flowing.

The Glendale College football team, which squished Citrus in its 1992 debut, opened the ’93 season Saturday with another win over the Owls, rallying in the fourth quarter for a 20-16 nonconference victory at Glendale High.

Glendale, which defeated the Owls, 31-0, last year, has won the last four meetings with Citrus and leads the series 4-2.

Although the Owls didn’t seem to give a hoot about winning last season, it was a wiser and more determined group that pushed Glendale to the brink this time.

The Vaqueros trailed, 16-14, with less than six minutes to play when they struck for their third big play. On second and 17, quarterback Chris Ray, under duress as he had been all afternoon, tossed a pass toward the left sideline just before being hit.

Sky Bushey outjumped defensive back Jaime Lopez for the ball, then turned and raced for the end zone, completing the 47-yard scoring play. Ray’s conversion pass fell incomplete, but Glendale led, 20-16, with 5 minutes 19 seconds to play.

The Glendale defense, which limited Citrus to 28 second-half yards, sacked quarterback John Martin on third down on each of the Owls’ final two series.

“This was a great gut-check comeback,” Glendale Coach John Cicuto said.

Glendale took a 14-0 first-half lead. Ray (nine for 15, 160 yards, two touchdowns) completed a 49-yard scoring pass to Brett Miller in the first period and transfer Jerome Casey (seven carries, 47 yards) added a 39-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

Citrus, which sacked Ray six times, responded with 10 points before halftime, then took the lead when Aaron Wilson recovered a blocked punt in the Glendale end zone late in the third period.

Glendale, which rushed for 67 yards, was led on the ground by sophomore Pathon Rucker, who had 51 yards in 16 carries.