Football: The Defense Dominates with 6 interceptions, 3 for Games MVP Sauvao

Football: The Defense Dominates with 6 interceptions, 3 for Games MVP Sauvao

Huntington Beach, Calif. - The SCFA regional semifinal game saw the Rustler defense shine as the games most valuable player and Southern League defensive player of the year Codie Sauvao tallies three interceptions in the 20-10 victory at home to advance to the SCFA region finals.  

Golden West is one win away from its first State Championship berth in program history but it took a total team effort this afternoon against a very tough #3 College of the Canyons. 

Each team traded possessions in the first quarter trying to figure each others defenses out, but Golden West would strike first in the second quarter after the defenses first interception by Eman Lawoye. Lawoye picked off the pass on the Canyons 10 yard-line to setup Gianni Hurds 1 yard touchdown run to give Golden West a 7-0 lead. 

The Rustler defense forced a quick three and out and the offense went to work again as they drove 81 yards on 14 plays for a Jake Cipres 25 yard field to extend their lead 10-0. Golden West would take a 10-0 lead into the locker rooms for halftime. 

Canyons came out of halftime and scored 10 unanswered points to tie the game 10-10 with a 32 yard touchdown pass and 21 yard field goal. 

Golden West used a strong fourth quarter to control the momentum as they tallied three interceptions in the final quarter to close out the victory. Cipres converted his second field goal of the game to give the Rustlers the lead at 13-10 early in the fourth quarter. Wide out Tanner Branson caught a 39 yard touchdown pass from the Southern League offensive player of the year, quarterback Jake Retzlaff to make it a two score game at 20-10. 

With the win, Golden West is set to host #4 Riverside City College on Saturday, December 4 at 12pm. Riverside City upset the #1 seed Ventura College 41-21 to advance to the SCFA Finals.