No. 8 Rustlers knock off top-ranked Riverside in 37-36 thriller

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Beck Walker's 12-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Will Burns with a minute left in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner while Jesse Schumacher's interception with 16 seconds remaining secured No. 8 state-ranked Golden West College's 37-36 upset victory over defending state champion and current top-ranked Riverside City College on Saturday afternoon at Rustler Stadium.

Golden West improved to 2-0 overall and snapped a three-game losing streak against the Tigers.

The non-league match up was a thriller from start to finish. The opening quarter saw the two squads combine to score 40 points.

The Rustlers set the tone early. On the first play of their opening drive, Burns connected with Robert Sarmiento for a 15-yard touchdown to give GWC the 7-0 lead at the 13:56 mark.

On the ensuing kickoff, Golden West's Brandon Soleau stripped the ball from RCC return man Darryl Booker. Orlando Bustamante fell on it for the fumble recovery and the Rustlers were set up for another quick score starting at the RCC 14-yard line.

Three plays later, Burns hit Noah Burdick for a 4-yard TD pass and less than three minutes into the contest, Golden West held a 14-0 advantage.

RCC finally got on the board with 8:51 to go in the first, using a 10-play, 91-yard drive that resulted in a 27-yard TD reception by Dominic Cox from Brady Jones. The Tigers missed the extra kick and GWC led 14-6.

Still in the first, the Rustlers got those points back and went up 21-6 thanks to a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown by Nigel Mills.

But Riverside was able to a pair of touchdowns to close out the epic opening quarter. Devyne Pearson ran in from four yards out with 3:36 to go and Andre Branch busted through from three yards as time expired to cut the Golden West lead to 21-19.

The Tigers took their first lead of the contest midway through the second after capitalizing on a Golden West fumble. RCC's Raymond Valencia scooped it up and ran it back 23 yards for a touchdown to pit Riverside out in front 26-21.

Golden West responded by going 75 yards over 12 plays for a go-ahead touchdown. Beck Walker ran in from a yard out at the 2:01 mark to send the Rustlers into halftime with a 27-26 lead.

GWC kicker Fernando Mancilla added to the lead in the third with a 43-yard field goal and the Rustlers led 30-26 with 10:14 to play in the third.

Riverside went on to score the next 10 points. KJ Cherry hauled in a huge 62-yard TD from Christopher Cooper at the 5:05 mark in the third and Pedro Padilha chipped in a 24-yard field goal with 14:06 remaining in the fourth to give RCC a 36-30 advantage.

From that point, the Golden West defense tightened up and held the Tigers scoreless the rest of the way. With 3:09 on the clock, the Rustlers began what would be the game-winning drive from their own 25-yard line.

Burns got Golden West moving with a 21-yard completion to Trey Nelson. Four plays later, Burns and the Rustlers faced fourth down but got a huge 14-yard pass completed for a first down to Robert Sarmiento to keep the drive alive.

After a RCC penalty on the next play, Burns kept the ball and raced down the left sideline for a 23-yard run to the Riverside 12-yard line. And with one minute remaining on the clock, Burns connected with Walker for a short pass down the left side. Walker got a great block downfield and snuck through for the touchdown.

The Tigers had one final chance to escape with a win, but after quickly driving to Golden West 43-yard line, Schumacher cut in front of a cross route to pick off Cooper pass and set off the Rustlers celebration.

Burns had a big game for Golden West, throwing for 225 yards and 3 TDs on 23 of 45 passing. He also led GWC rushers with 9 carries for 90 yards. Sarmiento was the Rustlers' top receiver with 8 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, Schumacher led with 8 tackles and the big interception. Daniel Viramontes had 7 tackles and a sack and Christian Patero also had a sack.

The tough non-league portion of the Golden West schedule continues next week when the Rustlers host 2-0 San Diego Mesa College on Saturday (Sep. 21) at 1 p.m.