Warrior running back Antwain Easterling pounded the Citrus defense through the first half, running his way to a 33-14 victory over the Fighting Owls. Easterling is the first Warrior running back this season to rush for more than 100 yards in a game.
“I was playing my role and doing everything right from the beginning of the week,” Easterling said. “I was just staying focused and being humble about getting playing time.”
Overall, Easterling carried the ball 12 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Easterling’s counterpart, Fighting Owl running back Isaac Tucker, also ran for more than 100 yards for the second consecutive game, gaining 119 yards on 17 carries.
In addition to Easterling, the entire team had a great performance, coach John Featherstone said.
“I thought, overall, our team played good, solid football coming off a tough loss at Mt. SAC (last Saturday),” Featherstone said.
In the first quarter, after a Fighting Owls (2-7, 1-4) punt on its first possession, the Warriors came back from their own five-yard line, driving 95 yards drive in seven plays to give the Warriors an early 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Warriors (8-1, 4-1) faced weak field position again, but drove the ball 97 yards. Andre Harris scored on a one-yard run from the goal line as he dove past the Owl defense. Harris finished the game with eight rushes for 28 yards and one touchdown. The Warriors were unable to convert the extra point, as sophomore kicker Brian Blumberg’s attempt was blocked by Owl defensive back Gabriel Aquino.
Defensively, the Warriors had a nice outing, Featherstone said, holding the Citrus offense to 283 yards and grabbing two interceptions and picking up an Owl fumble. Freshman linebacker Dionte Brooks led the Warrior defense with six tackles and one interception. Freshman linebacker Reuben Willis helped the defense with three tackles and two sacks.
“The defensive line has been opening up stuff for me the whole year and especially the defensive backs. Two of those sacks can probably be counted for coverage sacks as well,” Willis said.
On the first drive of the second half, the Warriors scored another touchdown as Harris ran in for his second score of the game, but Owl linebacker Aaron Ridgeway blocked the following extra point by Blumberg.
On the next possession, Citrus wide receiver Adolph Overstreet returned a Blumberg kickoff 36 yards, bringing the ball to the Warrior 42-yard line. The Fighting Owls scored a touchdown in two plays, as Owl quarterback Austi Goldsmith completed a 42-yard pass to running back Isaac Tucker to make the score 19-7.
The Warriors responded with another touchdown as Easterling ran the ball eight yards, making the score 26-7. Citrus came right back as Tucker set the score up with a 40-yard run, putting the Owls on the Warrior 17-yard line. Goldsmith completed a 17-yard pass on the following play to Overstreet as the Owls got within 12 points.
Citrus looked like it may have been able to pull an upset until Goldsmith fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Warrior defensive back Ray Chapman.
Quarterback Jimmy Coy completed 15 of his 30 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions while gaining 335 yards. Coy also rushed for 39 yards on seven carries, but was sacked twice.
The Warriors’ championship chances are looking better as Mt. San Antonio College (8-1, 4-1), lost 44-38 to Cerritos (7-2, 4-1) in an upset last Saturday. Cerritos comes to EC’s Murdock Stadium Saturday. If the Warriors win, they will share the National Division’s Central Conference championship with Mt SAC.
If Cerritos wins, the Falcons alone will be Central Conference champions.
In addition, whichever team wins will make the playoffs. If the Warriors defeat Cerritos, it will be the fifth consecutive season they have made the playoffs.
Featherstone attended the Mt. SAC-Cerritos Cerritos game Saturday after the Warrior victory.
“(Cerritos) won on the last play. Featherstone said. “We have our hand full this week.”
