Pictured L-R: Citrus & Mt. SAC running backs, Jamahl Wilson & Devin Miles

College Football:

Two of the state’s best JC football programs meet up on Saturday night in Walnut.

Mt. SAC (3-0), the No. 1 program in California in the latest JCAB and CCCSIA state polls will host 15th-ranked Citrus (2-1) in the National-Central Conference opener for both teams.

The kickoff is set for 6.

The Owls are under no illusion that they enter Saturday’s contest as anything but the underdogs.

But Citrus coach Brandon Hayashi, his staff and their players won’t be intimidated when they look across the line of scrimmage at a perennial state power in maroon.

The one common opponent is Mt. San Jacinto.

In the 2024 season opener, the Mounties secured a 38-21 victory at MSJC, and one week later, the Owls dropped a 21-16 decision to the visiting Eagles.

On the defensive side of the ball, Citrus and Mt. SAC have surrendered 54 points apiece in the first three games.

The Owls hold a narrow (396-393) advantage in total offense.

Citrus’ Jamahl Wilson and Mt. SAC’s Devin Miles are worth the price of admission.

Wilson has carried the ball 42 times for 387 rushing yards and four TD’s.

Last Saturday, in a 48-13 blowout over Grossmont, Wilson scored on a 98-yard TD run to set a new program record.

He’s also caught five passes for 101 yards and one score.

Miles has been a highlight reel himself, gaining 311 yards on 52 carries, including a pair of TD’s.

Miles has eight receptions for 51 yards, and he’s had a few touchdowns called back on penalties.

Both programs feature two quarterbacks.

Koy Riggin (26-of-43 for 299 yards, 1 TD & 3 INT’s) and Tobin O’Dell (11-of-32 for 167 yards, 3 TD’s & 1 INT) have combined to complete 37-of-75 for 466 yards, four TD’s and four interceptions for the Owls.

The boys from Walnut feature Noah Fuailetolo (49-of-77 for 489 yards, 4 TD’s & 1 INT) and Jack Benson (16-of-22 for 140 yards, 3 TD’s & 1 INT), who collectively have gone 65-for-99 for 629 yards, seven TD’s and two picks.

Mt. SAC’s De’shon Thompson has totaled 13 receptions for 98 yards and one score, while teammate Pierce Brown has reeled in seven catches for 60 yards and one TD.

Along with Wilson, Emmanuel Mogbolu (6-for-81 yards), Talan O’Dell (4-for-51 & 1 TD) and Sean Persson (5-for-50 & 1 TD) have paced the Owls receiving corps.

Juan Salas (Mt. SAC) and Hunter Corbin (Citrus) have anchored the Mounties and Owls’ defenses with 17 and 16 tackles, respectively.

Juruan Hardin (2.5), Darien Jackson (2) and Mathias Malaki-Donaldson (2) have at least two sacks for the Mounties, while Dominic Rausch (2) is the lone Owls’ player with multiple sacks.

And Mt. SAC’s Harold Peters is the only athlete on either program with two interceptions.

On special teams, Citrus’ Ruben Jimenez (2-for-2 on field goals (long of 34) and 6-for-7 on extra-points) and Lucas Froemel (2-for-3 on field goals (long of 32) and 5-of-6 on extra-points) have combined to go 4-for-5 on field goals and 11 of 13 on extra-point attempts.

Their counterparts, Jacob Bonilla (4-for-4 on field goals (long of 41) and 6-of-7 on extra-points) and Matthew Fidone (2-for-3 on field goals (long of 42) and 5-for-5 on extra-points) have gone 6-for-7 on field goals and 11 of 12 on extra points.

By the Numbers:
Records: Citrus (2-1); Mt. SAC (3-0)
Points Scored: C (91); M (101)
Points Allowed: C (54); M (54)
Average Margin of Victory: C (32-18); M (34-18)
Passing Yards Per Game: C (155); M (210)
Rushing Yards Per Game: C (241); M (183)
Total Offense Per Game: C (396); M (393)
Most Points Scored in a Game: C (48 vs Grossmont); M (41 vs Allan Hancock)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: C (21 vs Mt. San Jacinto); M (21 vs Mt. San Jacinto)
Opponents Combined Record: C (5-4); M (6-3)
Citrus’ Road Record: (1-0)
Mt. SAC’s Home Record: (1-0)
JCAB State Ranking: C (15); M (1)
CCCSIA State Ranking: C (18); M (1)
Last Meeting 9/23/2023: Mt. SAC 42, Citrus 21

Stat Leaders:

Quarterbacks:
Noah Fuailetolo (MS): 49-of-77 for 489 yards, 4 TD’s & 1 INT
Koy Riggin (C): 26-of-43 for 299 yards, 1 TD & 3 INT’s
Tobin O’Dell (C): 11-of-32 for 167 yards, 3 TD’s & 1 INT
Jack Benson (MS): 16-of-22 for 140 yards, 3 TD’s & 1 INT

Running Backs:
Jamahl Wilson (C): 42-for-387 yards & 4 TD’s (long of 98)
Devin Miles (MS): 52-for-311 & 2 TD’s
Myion Walker (C): 33-for-109
Hakim Haliburton (C): 10-for-116 & 3 TD’s
Adrion Boyd (MS): 15-for-96
Jayson Cortes (MS): 22-for-73 & 1 TD

Receivers:
Jamahl Wilson (C): 5-for-101 yards & 1 TD
De’shon Thompson (MS): 13-for-98 yards & 1 TD
Emmanuel Mogbolu (C): 6-for-81
Devin Miles (MS): 8-for-51
Pierce Brown (MS): 7-for-60 & 1 TD
Nicolas Ceballos (MS): 6-for-62
Talan O’Dell (C): 4-for-51 & 1 TD
Sean Persson (C): 5-for-50 & 1 TD

Tackles Leaders:
Juan Salas (MS): 17
Hunter Corbin (C): 16
Jadakiss Vaokakala (C): 14
Kyle Ferm (C): 13
Tyondre Coleman (MS): 12
Jaylen Crutchfield (MS): 11
Antonio Mayes (MS): 11
Harold Peters (MS): 11
Dmitri Pierre (MS): 11
Darrell Tripline (MS): 11
Kalim Mikhail (MS): 10
Julien Lopez (MS): 10
Keenan Eck (C): 9
Jordan Garcia (C): 9
Juruan Hardin (MS): 9
Kaho Tuihalamaka (MS): 9
Christian Sampson (C): 9
Donovan Perez (C): 8
Nic Saunders (C): 8
Darien Jackson (MS): 8

Sacks (two or more):
Juruan Hardin (MS): 2.5
Dominic Rausch (C): 2
Darien Jackson (MS): 2
Mathias Malaki-Donaldson (MS): 2

Interceptions:
Harold Peters (MS): 2
Ryder Cadam (C): 1
Christian Sampson (C): 1
Juan Salas (MS): 1
Dmitri Pierre (MS): 1
Brayden Hapner (MS): 1

Kickers:
Jacob Bonilla (MS): 4-for-4 on field goals (long of 41) and 6-of-7 on extra-points
Ruben Jimenez (C): 2-for-2 on field goals (long of 34) and 6-for-7 on extra-points
Lucas Froemel (C): 2-for-3 on field goals (long of 32) and 5-of-6 on extra-points
Matthew Fidone (MS): 2-for-3 on field goals (long of 42) and 5-for-5 on extra-points

National-Central Conference Standings:
Mt. SAC (3-0 overall, 0-0 in conference)
Citrus (2-1, 0-0)
Golden West (2-1, 0-0)
Cerritos (1-2, 0-0)
ELAC (1-2, 0-0)
SBVC (0-2, 0-0)
Orange Coast (0-3, 0-0)

Citrus’ Schedule & Results:
9/7: Citrus 31, Canyons 20
9/14: Mt. San Jacinto 21, Citrus 16
9/21: Citrus 48, Grossmont 13
10/5: Golden West at Citrus
10/12: Bye Week
10/19: Citrus at SBVC
10/26: Cerritos at Citrus
11/2: Citrus at ELAC
11/9: Orange Coast at Citrus
11/16: Citrus at LBCC

Mt. SAC Schedule & Results:
9/7: MSAC 38, Mt. San Jacinto 21
9/14: MSAC 22, Ventura 14
9/21: MSAC 41, Allan Hancock 19
9/28: Citrus at MSAC
10/5: MSAC at SBVC
10/12: Bye Week
10/19: MSAC at Cerritos
10/24: ELAC at MSAC
11/2: MSAC at OCC
11/9: LBCC at MSAC
11/16: Golden West at MSAC