Costa Mesa, Calif. - Rustler football won their first home game of the season on Sat, Sept 15th against the Allan Hancock Bulldogs with a final score of 35-32.
In a shocking start, Hancock's Bulldog football scored three times in the first quarter and with 4:49 seconds left in quarter, the score was already 19-0. Not being overcome by the quick start to the game, and forgetting their loosing performance last week, the Rustlers still had a game to play. In the second quarter, quarterback Chaiyse Hales (Carson, CA/Long Beach Poly HS) found tight end Christian Montes (Garden Grove, CA/Santiago HS) with a 10-yard pass for a touch down. Peter Marquez (Costa Mesa, CA/Costa Mesa HS) kicked for the extra point, and Golden West was on the scoreboard. In 1 minute and 29 seconds, the Rustlers completed a 9 play drive for 56-yards, and with 23 seconds left in the first half; Hales completes a pass to Marcus Hayes (Buena Park, CA/Western HS), and with the Marquez's kick being good, the score was 19-14. The team went to the locker room only down by 5 in the first half.
In the third quarter, No. 22 Marcus Hays makes a 49-yard run to score, and the Rustlers were ahead. Hector Solias (Costa Mesa, CA/Costa Mesa HS) came in as the kicker, and with the kick good, Golden West was up by 3. Hancock was not ready to give up either, and scored with an impressive 75-yard pass. Going into the fourth quarter, the score was 26-21. In a nail biting game, the Bulldogs scored again, but the kick was no good, and gave Golden West another chance to score. They did. Hales's 48-yard pass to wide receiver Isaiah Nelson (Royal Palm Beach, FL/Jupiter Christian HS) was a touchdown, and the extra kick from Marquez brought the score to 32-28. With 3 minutes and 34 seconds left in the game, Victor Moananu (Waipahu, HI/Waipahu HS) found the end zone with a 1-yard run, Marquez with the kick, and the game was over, Rustlers winning by 3.
The 2-1 Rustlers will face off again at home against Fullerton at LaBard Stadium (Costa Mesa, CA) at 6:00pm on Saturday, Sept. 22nd.
