The Warriors’ Antwain Easterling pounded the Citrus defense through the first half and ran his way to a victory for his team, 33-14. Easterling is the first running back EC has had this season that has run for over 100-yards in a game.
“I was just 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.”
In total, Easterling carried the ball 12 times and ran for 102 yards. He had a loss of one yard and averaged 8.5 yards a carry. Throughout the season, Easterling has averaged 236-yards and has lost eight, averaging at 5.5-yards a carry. On Saturday, his counterpart for the Fighting Owls Isaac Tucker also ran over 100-yards for the second game in a row gaining 119-yards in 17 carries.
In addition to Easterling, the whole team had a great performance, said coach John Featherstone.
“I thought overall our team played good solid football coming off a tough loss at Mt SAC. We played good solid football,” said Featherstone.
In the first quarter, after the Citrus’ Fighting Owls (2-7, 1-4) punted on their first possession, EC came back from a weak field position at their own five-yard line to make a 95-yard drive in seven plays making the score 7-0.
In the second quarter, the Warriors (8-1, 4-1) faced weak field position again, but drove the ball for 97-yards. Andre Harris scored the touchdown one yard away from the goal line when he dove past the defense. The score was then 13-0 after the extra point was blocked.
Defensively EC had a nice outing, said Featherstone, holding the Citrus offense to 283-yards and getting two interceptions. Reuben Willis, a linebacker, had three 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,” said Willis.
In the second half, the Warriors scored another touchdown and Citrus blocked the following extra point. At the kickoff, Citrus wide-receiver Adolph Overstreet carried the ball into EC territory. The Fighting Owls then scored a touchdown in two plays making the score 7-19.
EC responded with another touchdown, but Citrus came right back. Tucker set the score up with a 40-yard run so quarterback Austin Goldsmith could knock it down with a 17-yard touchdown pass.
Citrus look like they may have been able to pull an upset until Goldsmith fumbled the ball which was recovered by the Warriors’ Ray Chapman.
EC had 569 total offensive yards and rushed 47 times for 234 yards. Quarterback Jimmy Coy completed 15 for 30 passes with no interceptions gaining 335-yards.
The Warriors’ championship chances are looking better. Mt SAC (8-1, 4-1), whom the Warriors have lost their only game, lost to Cerritos (7-2, 4-1) in an upset last Saturday. The final score was 44-38. Cerritos plays EC next week and if the Warriors win they will share a co-championship with Mt SAC. If Cerritos wins, they alone will be conference champions.
In addition, whichever team wins will be in the playoffs. If the Warriors defeat Cerritos this will be the fifth year they will be in the playoffs.
Featherstone went to see the Mt SAC Cerritos game last Saturday.
“In triple overtime, they won in the last play of the game. We got our hand full this week, they’re a really good football team,” Featherstone said. “But we’re a solid football team too so we’ll be ready.”