Owls Finish Strong in 51-31 Victory Over Allan Hancock, Will Host Golden State Bowl

No. 20 state-ranked Citrus College Football closed out the regular season in dominant fashion, defeating Allan Hancock College 51-31 on Saturday, November 8.

With the victory, Citrus moves to 6-4 overall and finishes 4-3 in National Northern Conference play, while Allan Hancock drops to 4-6 overall and 3-4 in conference. The win also officially secured Citrus College as the host site for the Golden State Bowl, where the Owls will take on Pasadena City College on Saturday, November 22.

Allan Hancock struck first, scoring on two of their first three possessions to take an early 14-0 lead. The Owls answered late in the opening quarter as quarterback Brian Salazar Jr. connected with Cameron Bateman for a 28-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 14-7 after one.

The Bulldogs extended the lead to 20-7 early in the second quarter on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, but Citrus countered immediately — marching 49 yards in eight plays before Salazar Jr. punched in a two-yard rushing touchdown to get within a score at 20-14. Alex Hernandez added a 32-yard field goal to make it 20-17, before Hancock answered with a field goal of their own to push the lead to 23-17.

In the closing moments of the half, Salazar Jr. found Bateman again — this time on a 55-yard strike down the sideline on third down — giving Citrus a 24-23 lead heading into halftime.

Citrus opened the second half strong, driving 44 yards in five plays, capped by a Keyonn Chatmann 3-yard touchdown run to go up 31-23. On Hancock's next possession, Jarrel Comer blocked a field goal attempt — his second blocked FG in back-to-back games — setting up another Owls scoring drive. Citrus capitalized with a 9-play, 57-yard drive, ending with Chatmann's second rushing touchdown of the contest to make it 38-23.

After a huge fourth-and-goal defensive stop late in the third, the Owls put the game away in the fourth quarter. Citrus went 97 yards in nine plays, capped by Salazar Jr. hitting Daniel Tarabey for his first career touchdown as an Owl. Salazar Jr. added one more rushing touchdown — his second of the day — pushing the lead to 51-23. Allan Hancock added one late score, resulting in the 51-31 final.

Citrus finished with 464 yards of total offense and 29 first downs. Salazar Jr. posted another standout performance — going 21-for-35 for 292 yards and three touchdowns while adding 43 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground (five total TDs).

Chatmann carried 19 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns, while Angel Barraza Jr. added 30 rushing yards.

Bateman continued his elite season — surpassing 100 receiving yards for the sixth time this year and posting multiple TD receptions for the fourth time. Bateman now ranks fourth in the state with 13 receiving touchdowns and leads the National Northern Conference with 922 receiving yards. Lorenza Simmons added four catches for 82 yards. Jalen Thompson and Keaton Morales each recorded three receptions for 31 yards, while Tarabey hauled in his lone 20-yard touchdown catch.

Jacob Cox and Bear Baker led Citrus with five tackles apiece (Baker adding one TFL). Comer, Donovan Perez, Maddox Barrios, and Tyson Toscano each tallied four tackles, while Curlee Kirkpatrick Jr. contributed two tackles and two pass breakups.

Citrus College now turns attention to postseason play — hosting the Golden State Bowl on Saturday, November 21 at 1 p.m. against Pasadena City College at Citrus Stadium, the Owls' first Bowl Game since 2023.