Top-Seeded Rustlers Set to Host No. 4 Ventura in Southern California Semifinals

The No. 1-seeded Golden West College Rustlers begin their run towards a state championship by hosting No. 4 seed Ventura College in the Southern California Regional Playoffs semifinals on Saturday (Nov. 29). Kickoff is set for noon at Rustler Stadium in Huntington Beach.

After closing out the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record, the National Central League champion Rustlers earned a first-round bye in the playoffs and will see their first action since a Week 10 victory at Fullerton College on Nov. 8.

This year's 10-0 mark matched the 2021 Golden West squad that also achieved the historic feat. The league championship also marked the second under head coach Nick Mitchell and sixth in program history.

Following the close of the regular season, Mitchell was named the SCFA National Central League Coach of the Year. Also earning top Central League honors were freshman wide receiver Tanner Schmidt (Offensive Player of the Year) and sophomore linebacker Brandon Soleau (Defensive Player of the Year). In all, the Rustlers received 19 All-National Central League postseason awards.

Schmidt closed the regular season with a league-leading 43 receptions and 11 receiving touchdowns while his 870 receiving yards ranked second. He also added a punt return touchdown, giving him 12 TDs on the year.

Soleau helped anchor an outstanding Golden West defense that allowed just 15.7 points per game during the regular season. Soleau totaled 77 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions, including an interception return for a touchdown.

TICKETS | Tickets to the state playoff game are available online in advance through the 3C2A tickets page.

Ticket prices are as follows:
Adult General Admission - $13
Student General Admission (High School/College) - $9
Seniors 60+ - $9
Children - $9

LIVE STREAM | The game will be broadcast live for free by SoCalCollegeSports on YouTube. Live play-by-play stats will also be available online at the GWC Athletics website.

ABOUT VENTURA | Ventura is the South's No. 4 seed and enters Saturday's contest with a 10-1 overall record. The Pirates were on their way to a perfect regular season but dropped their finale to Mt. SAC by a final score of 55-54.

After the loss, Ventura fell out of the region's top two spots and was forced to play a quarterfinal regional game last week at home against No. 5 Cerritos College.

The Pirates had their backs against the wall vs. Falcons. Down by 16 points late in the third quarter, VC quarterback Braesen Leon engineered three straight scoring drives in the final 18 minutes of play, running for a touchdown and passing for two more, to lead Ventura past Cerritos 41-37.

LAST MEETING | Golden West and Ventura are facing off for the first time since 2015. The Rustlers were victorious in the Week 6 regular-season matchup at LeBard Stadium, winning by a score of 30-23. Quarterback Adam Vance tossed 3 touchdowns while the Rustlers' defense came away with 5 interceptions.

Golden West also won in 2014, earning a 32-20 victory at Ventura.

UP NEXT | The winner of Saturday's matchup advances to the Southern California championship final on Dec. 6 at the site of the higher seed. In Saturday's other semifinal, No. 2 Saddleback College hosts No. 3 Mt. SAC at 1 p.m.

Playoff matchups in the Northern California region include No. 3 Diablo Valley College at No. 2 Modesto Junior College and No. 5 Fresno City College at No. 1 College of San Mateo.

The SCFA champion will host the 3C2A State Championship on Dec. 13. | 3C2A Playoffs Bracket