Despite falling behind two scores early at Palomar Saturday night in a SCFA Southern League contest, the Rustlers owned the second half and defeated the Comets, 34-21, to set up a dramatic final two weeks of the season.
Palomar (3-5, 1-3) quarterback Austin Early hit Wayne Ganan on 15-and-6-yard TD passes as the Comets took a 14-0 lead early into the second quarter.
But Golden West (8-0, 4-0) outscored Palomar, 34-7, the rest of the way, including a 27-7 advantage in the second half.
The win sets up a dramatic final two weeks of the regular season as Golden West takes on Orange Coast College (3-1 in conference) this Saturday night, and the Rustlers finish Nov. 14 at Saddleback (5-0) at 6 p.m.
OCC is coming off a 38-17 win over Santa Ana and has won 5 of its last 6 games, and Saddleback outlasted Fullerton, 39-36, and have won seven straight games.
Johnny Hills 1-yard TD run at 8:26 of the second quarter got Golden West to within 14-7 at the half, and Nick Sternard's 11-yard TD run midway through the third period got the Rustlers' even at 14-14.
Jordan Veasy caught consecutive TD passes of 27 yards from Nick Sternard and a 42-yard strike from Adam Vance that gave the Rustlers a 28-21 lead that they would not relinquish.
Vance finished off Palomar when he hit Denim Sansom on a 57-yard TD with 4:10 to play.
"Our defense did a good job of settling down and making stops late when we needed them," Golden West coach Nick Mitchell said. "We were able to get on top of their secondary for big passing plays, and that was the difference late."
Veasy caught six passes for a game-high 168 yards and the two scores.
Quest Truxton had eight receptions for 72 yards.
Vance finished 16 of 24 for 335 yards, including two scores and two interceptions.
Early completed 35 of 48 for 353 yards and three TD passes, without a turnover for Palomar.
Jake Jiannoni led the Golden West defense with 11 tackles (7 solo) and Tristian Green had eight, including two for minus yards.
Mitchell knows he's got his work cut out for him if Golden West is to finish off a perfect regular season.
Said Mitchell: "It's anybody's conference title out there for the taking. OCC is our rival and they're playing well, so it will be a tough game (Saturday night at 6 p.m @ OCC).
Then, at Saddleback (Nov. 14), in the finale, they are playing so well that it's a good thing we've won all the games we have."
