Rustlers wrap up 2024 with bowl win over Allan Hancock, close with 9-2 overall record

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Golden West College closed out another impressive season with a 28-7 victory over Allan Hancock College on Sunday in the Southern California Bowl at Rustler Stadium.

After relying on the pass for the majority of the season, the Rustlers took to the ground to dispatch Allan Hancock while the defense was nearly flawless.

Golden West ran for 219 yards, their second-highest rushing game of the season, with three of its four touchdowns coming by ground.

Kendric Thomas led the attack, running 16 times for 100 yards. His 4-yard touchdown run at the 6:29 mark in the first opened the game's scoring and gave the Rustlers a 7-0 lead.

Golden West extended the advantage to 14-0 before halftime when Beck Walker broke through from 3-yards out for a TD with 42 seconds remaining.

Allan Hancock finally got on the board on its opening drive of the third quarter. On its first play, Caden Harris streaked his way to a 58-yard touchdown run with 14:37 to go. That would prove to be the lone mishap for the Rustlers defense as Allan Hancock was held scoreless the rest of the way.

GWC quarterback Will Burns got in on the action, tossing a 13-yard TD to Robert Sarmiento at the 9:56 mark in the third to give the Rustlers some extra breathing room at 21-7.

And in the fourth, Burns iced the Golden West victory with a 1-yard TD run to close out a long 12-play, 54-yard drive. It marked the fourth straight game Burns threw and ran for a touchdown.

Burns completed 11 of 24 passes for 103 yards and a TD with no interceptions to close out a standout freshman season for the Rustlers. He also ran 9 times for 29 yards and a score.

Sarmiento led GWC receivers with 4 catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.

The Rustlers' defense allowed just 7 points for the fourth time this season. Golden West was relentless in its pressure of Allan Hancock quarterback Drake Missamore as he was sacked six times.

Josh Clark, Andrew Jordan, Terahiti Wolf, Hudson Letterman, and Nick Mendez were all in on sacks. Golden West had 12 tackles for loss and forced a fumble that led to a Rustlers' touchdown.

The Rustlers reached the postseason for the fourth straight year under head coach Nick Mitchell and just missed out on a Southern California playoff berth by a tie-breaker. Golden West ends with a 9-2 overall record and was second in in the National Central League with a 6-1 mark.