No. 6 state-ranked Golden West College is set to host Orange Coast College in the 54th meeting of the "Battle of the Bell" game. For the second straight season, the rivalry matchup will be played on Thursday (Oct. 17), this time an afternoon matinee at Rustler Stadium with a 2 p.m. kickoff.
The contest is one of five Southern California Football Association games scheduled for Thursday.
The Rustlers will look to continue their dominance over the Pirates having won seven straight rivalry games since the 2016 season. Golden West has taken 11 of the last 12 overall with the Pirates' last victory coming in 2015.
Last year, Golden West was dominant in a 58-9 win in Costa Mesa. The Rustlers totaled 481 yards of offense with Nate Jimenez hauling in 3 touchdown receptions. The defense was just as strong, posting 4 interceptions and 3 sacks. Marquis Brown had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown while Harrison Cofell ran an interception back 69 yards for a TD.
TICKETS | Tickets are available online in advance at the GWC Tickets page.
Ticket prices are as follows:
General Admission - $12
Seniors 60+ - $8
Children 6-12 - $8
All other students - $8
LIVE STREAM | The game will be broadcast live by SoCalCollegeSports on YouTube. Live play-by-play stats will also be available online at the GWC Athletics website.
UPDATING THE RUSTLERS | Golden West is coming off a bye and enters today's contest with a 4-1 overall record. The Rustlers bounced back from their lone loss and have won its last two games to move to 2-0 in National Central League play.
GWC last played at Citrus College on Oct. 5 and cruised to a 45-7 win over the Owls. Quarterback Will Burns tossed 3 touchdowns and ran in for another. The Rustlers' defense held Citrus scoreless for the majority of the contest until allowing a late touchdown with 8:20 to play in the fourth.
The defense compiled 4 sacks, forced 3 fumbles, and had an interception.
ABOUT ORANGE COAST | The Pirates are 1-4 overall and 1-1 in league after last week's bye. OCC won its lone game of the season its last time out, a 19-7 victory over visiting East Los Angeles College on Oct. 5.
For the Pirates, it was their first win at home since 2022.
Orange Coast ran for 180 yards, getting 80 yards on 11 carries from quarterback Zach Congalton. He passed for 83 yards on 9 of 25 attempts with a touchdown and 2 interceptions.
UP NEXT | Golden West is off again next week (Oct. 26) after San Bernardino Valley College cancelled the remainder of its season. The Rustlers are back in action on Nov. 2 when they travel to Long Beach City College for a 6 p.m. Central League game.
