HUNTINGTON BEACH – After falling behind early, No. 7 state-ranked Golden West College couldn't erase a 13-0 second-quarter deficit and suffered a 33-21 loss to No. 3 Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday in both teams' regular-season finale.
The loss snapped the Rustlers' seven-game winning streak. Golden West ultimately came up short in securing the National League Central title as well as earning an automatic spot in the Southern California Regional Playoffs. Mt. SAC wrapped up the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record and was 7-0 in the Central League.
With an 8-2 overall mark (6-1 NCL), the Rustlers are a lock to host a postseason bowl game. Playoff/bowl game matchups will be announced by the 3C2A on Monday (Nov. 13) with games getting underway as soon as Nov. 18.
On Saturday, the Rustlers' defense did all it could to keep GWC in the game. Mt. SAC was limited to a touchdown and 3 field goal attempts on its first four drives of the contest.
Down 13-0, Golden West finally got on the board at the 6:03 mark in the second quarter. Quarterback Parker Awad led the Rustlers on a 7-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 30-yard TD reception by Dasani MacIntosh. Golden West went into halftime down 13-7.
The Rustlers had the ball to open the second half, but couldn't get much going and was forced to punt. The Mounties capitalized to put up another 7 points to extend their lead to 20-7.
Trailing by 13 points once again, the Rustlers didn't give up. Awad put together another long drive, this time going 75 yards over 12 plays. Along the way, GWC converted on a pair of big third-down plays to keep it going.
After three straight rushes by Ralph Ekechi to get the ball inside the Mounties' red zone, Awad hit Nate Jimenez for a 19-yard TD. The Rustlers cut the deficit down to 6 points, trailing 20-14 with 4:36 to go in the third.
Mt. SAC came right back to score on ensuing drive. The Mounties missed the extra point kick but took a two-possession lead, 26-14, into the final quarter.
Just like the Mounties, Golden West came right back to score on its next drive. This time, it was Luther Richesso tossing a 1-yard TD to Ekechi from out of the backfield. With 10:37 to play, Golden West felt good about its chances down by five, 26-21.
But Mt. SAC was able to grind down the clock on its next possession. And a pass interference penalty by Golden West on third down early in the drive proved costly.
A 2-yard TD run by Mt. SAC's Felix Igiri wrapped up a 15-play, nearly 9-minute drive that ultimately secured the Mounties' victory.
Despite losing the final contest, Golden West held the state's highest-scoring offense to 33 points. Mt. SAC had put up 70+ in two straight games and entered Saturday averaging 48 points per game.
Marquis Brown led Golden West with 8 tackles, Terrel Taylor and Christian Petero both had 7 tackles.
On offense, Awad completed 11 of 15 passes for 109 yards and 2 TDs. McIntosh led receivers with 5 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown while Ekechi ran 13 times for 106 yards.
