Football new to conference

The Citrus College football team kicks off the fall 2010 season at home on Saturday, Sept. 4.  The Owls will face off against West Los Angeles College at 1 p.m. in the Citrus College Stadium, and it will be their first game in the Central West Conference.  

Every two years, conference commissioners assess teams and try to balance out the divisions, according to Citrus head coach Ron Ponciano.  

According to the Southern California Football Association's website, the criteria used in determining the new division standings include recent win-loss records, size of the college, recruiting area, number of full-time coaches, and competitive tradition.  

The balancing out offers the Owls a chance to go further this season than last season, when the team competed in the National Division Central Conference, because they will be competing against teams that are close to the Owls' competitive level.  

Last season, the Owls' win-loss ratio was 3-7, and they ended in a three-way tie for fourth in the conference.  

Even though changing a conference is not desirable, "it has had a more positive effect," Ponciano said. "No question."

Citrus wide receiver Adrienne Hatley, 20, sociology major from Los Angeles, noted the change was hard, but the team is a lot better than before.

"I'm confident that we can win conference this year. No doubt," Hatley said.  

Returning linebacker Nicolas Barbone, 19, was not altered by the change of conference, although he said he was upset Citrus will not get to play Mt. San Antonio College.   

"It's better for us. We can go pretty far," Barbone said. "We have a good team, and have a good chance at state."

Ponciano praised this year's offensive line. Usually the line has one or two good players, but this season the whole line is good, he said.    

"We have a group of kids who really care," Ponciano said.  "They are a great group of guys."

The coach's goal for the team this season is simple: start fast and finish strong.

"We just need to take it one game at a time," Hatley said.  

Looking into the future doesn't hurt either. Hatley is looking forward to playing Bakersfield College on Sept. 25 and hoping to beat Los Angeles Harbor College on Oct. 30.  

The Owls are focusing on their competition and working on playing sound football as a team, Barbone said.  

They are scheduled to play five home games and five away games this season.  

Admission to the Sept. 4 kick-off game is free for students with an ASCC sticker and faculty of Citrus with proper ID, children up to 11, and conference pass holders. It costs $3 for senior citizens and youth ages 12 to 17. General admission is $5.    

The starting quarterback is expected to be freshman Blake Loncar. Two other candidates for quarterback are freshman Lance Karl and sophomore Robert Robles. Behind them they have 82 team members who are ready to defend their territory.