Glendale Impressive in 31-0 Rout of Citrus : College football: Vaqueros show balance on offense; Owls shut out for first time since 1986.

The Glendale College football team opened the curtain on its season with a variety show that ended in a well-orchestrated rout.

Nearly everyone got into the act as the Vaqueros manhandled Citrus, 31-0, Saturday in a nonconference game in Glendora that might help erase some of the memories of last season’s 4-6 campaign.

“It’s important when a team doesn’t have a successful year to come back and have this kind of success right off the bat,” Glendale Coach John Cicuto said.

Despite missing 14 players because of injury or illness, Glendale outgained Citrus in total offense, 380 yards to 149, and shone in virtually all aspects of the game.

Freshman quarterback Chris Ray came off the bench to complete nine of 15 passes for 125 yards, including a touchdown pass to tight end Miguel Gonzalez. Sophomore starter Eric Kiesau also threw a touchdown pass to Gonzalez and finished with seven completions in 13 attempts for 74 yards.

The Glendale ground game accounted for 181 yards with Setefano Malieitulua (71 yards and a touchdown in 12 carries) and Leon Gable (67 yards in 16 carries) carrying most of the load. Angel Martinez led the Vaquero receivers with five catches for 81 yards.

But the Vaqueros might have been more impressive on defense: Citrus was shut out for the first time since its second game in 1986.

“We have smaller guys than we did last year, but they’re real quick,” sophomore linebacker Scott Blade said.

That quickness, combined with pressure from the defensive line, wreaked havoc on Citrus quarterback Jeremy Topete, who threw four interceptions and finished six of 22 for 70 yards.

Blade made two interceptions and Greg Garrison and Felix Goodson each had one.

Goodson returned his interception 35 yards for a touchdown to give Glendale a 20-0 lead with six minutes left in the third quarter.

Glendale opened the scoring with 19 seconds left in the first half when Gonzalez hauled in a nine-yard touchdown pass. Although Glendale dominated play in the opening two quarters--outgaining Citrus, 220 yards to 35--the score was just 7-0 at halftime.

The Vaqueros broke the game open early in the second half when Malieitulua capped a 12-play, 76-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run and Goodson followed a minute later with his score.

Kiesau hit Gonzalez for an 18-yard touchdown five minutes into the fourth quarter and Brad Faunce booted a 57-yard field goal with 3:20 to play to cap the scoring.