Citrus Football Opens 2025 with 33-20 Win Over Chaffey

The Owls (1-0) struck first, marching 74 yards on their opening drive as freshman quarterback Brian Salazar Jr. (Monrovia HS) connected with running back Keyonn Chatman for a nine-yard touchdown to make it 7-0. Chaffey (0-1) answered on its next possession when former Owl Hakim Halliburton punched in a two-yard score, but a missed PAT left the Panthers trailing 7-6. 

Midway through the second quarter, sophomore kicker Alex Hernandez drilled a 30-yard field goal to push the lead to 10-6, then extended it further after a key defensive play as the Owls went up 13-6. Following an interception by Curlee Kirkpatrick Jr., Salazar found freshman wideout JP Sandiford on the very next snap for a 17-yard touchdown, sending Citrus into halftime up 19-6. 

Defense dominated much of the third quarter, but Halliburton scored his second two-yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead to 19-13 heading into the fourth. The Owls responded quickly when Durand Johnson forced a strip sack recovered by Tyson Toscano, setting up Salazar's 16-yard touchdown strike to Cameron Bateman for a 26-13 lead. 

Halliburton found the end zone again with five minutes remaining, this time from three yards out, closing the gap to 26-20. But with Chaffey threatening late, Kirkpatrick delivered his second interception of the night—this one a 90-yard pick-six to seal the 33-20 win. 

Offensive Leaders 

• Brian Salazar Jr.: 16-for-23, 164 yards, 3 TDs 

• Cameron Bateman: 5 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD 

• JP Sandiford: 1 reception, 17 yards, 1 TD 

• Keyonn Chatman: 1 reception, 9 yards, 1 TD 

• Alex Hernandez: 2-for-2 FG, 3-for-4 PAT 

Defensive Leaders 

• Durand Johnson, Jacob Cox, Bear Baker: 6 tackles, 1 TFL each 

• Jadakiss Vaokakala, Donovan Perez, Maddox Barrios: 5 tackles each 

• Curlee Kirkpatrick Jr.: 2 INTs (including 90-yard pick-six) 

• Thomas White: 3 tackles, 2 pass breakups 

Citrus now turns its attention to its first road matchup of the season, traveling to Saddleback College on Saturday, September 6, with kickoff set for 6 p.m.