The Golden West College Rustlers will host the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs in the 2024 Southern California Bowl on Sunday November 24th with a 12:30pm kickoff.
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Golden West's offense has been explosive all season, averaging 396.1 total yards per game and 34.0 points per game. Their balanced attack features 178.9 rushing yards and 217.2 passing yards per contest. Freshman quarterback Will Burns has been the leader of the offense, throwing for 1,740 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions on 145 completions out of 230 attempts (63.0%). Burns has also been a dual-threat, rushing for 639 yards and 6 touchdowns at an impressive 6.8 yards per carry.
The receiving corps is led by sophomore Robert Sarmiento, who has hauled in 37 receptions for 357 yards and 2 touchdowns, while freshman Trey Nelson adds a deep-threat element with 24 catches for 384 yards and 4 touchdowns. On the ground, running back Kendric Thomas has contributed 338 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, supported by Aaron Mitchell's 256 yards.
Defensively, the Rustlers have been dominant, allowing just 270.0 total yards per game, including a stingy 56.6 rushing yards per game. Sophomore Jayden Jackson and freshman Quincy Hankins anchor a secondary that has totaled 12 interceptions this season, while defensive lineman Javon Taylor has been a disruptive force up front.
The Bulldogs rely on their ground game led by Caden Harris, who has rushed for 864 yards and 5.7 yards per carry. Quarterback AJ Vele has been efficient, completing 67.4% of his passes for 16 touchdowns, targeting wide receiver Makai Puga, who leads the team with 1,112 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
Defensively, Allan Hancock has been solid against the run, holding opponents to 118.3 yards per game, but has struggled against the pass, allowing 238.7 passing yards per game.
The Rustlers' dominant run defense will face a stiff test against Harris and the Bulldogs' run-heavy offense. If Golden West can contain the ground game and force Allan Hancock into passing situations, their opportunistic secondary could exploit mistakes. On the flip side, the Bulldogs will need to slow down Burns and the Rustlers' balanced attack to stay competitive.
