Rustlers Ranked No. 7 in First Regular-Season State Poll; Face No. 2 Riverside in Home Opener

No. 7 state-ranked Golden West College (1-0) hosts Riverside City College (1-0) in a non-league game on Saturday (Sep. 6). Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Rustler Stadium in Huntington Beach.

TICKETS | Tickets are available online in advance at the GWC Tickets page.

Ticket prices are as follows:
General Admission - $12
Seniors 60+ - $8
Children 6-12 - $8
All other students - $8
GWC Students/Faculty/Staff - Free

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

RANKINGS | Golden West is ranked No. 7 in the first regular-season state poll of California community college football coaches. The Rustlers began the season also at No. 7 in the preseason rankings. Riverside jumped a spot from No. 3 to No. 2 in this week's poll.

LAST WEEK | Golden West opened the season with a 31-13 victory at Mt. San Jacinto College. Quarterback Noa Banua tossed three touchdown passes, included a pair in the second half, to help lead the Rustlers to the big win.

After a close opening half, the Rustlers took over in the second, outscoring Mt. San Jacinto 14-0 after Banua completed TDs to JD Alicea and Tanner Schimdt. David Daniels also hauled in a second-quarter touchdown as well.  

The Rustlers secondary came away with three interceptions, including a 63-yarder returned for a touchdown by Taeden Rodgers. Kruz Wheeler and Nigel Mills also had interceptions. Brandon Soleau led the defense with 9 total tackles.

ABOUT RIVERSIDE | The Tigers earned career win No. 1 for new head coach Kevin Craft thanks to a big 53-30 rout of Long Beach City College last Saturday.

RCC finished with 565 total offensive yards, including 338 passing yards and 227 rushing. Quarterbacks Bryan Wilson and Jared Doolittle split time under center. Wilson completed 17 of 24 passes for 218 yards with two touchdowns while Doolittle finished 13-for-17 and 120 yards with three touchdowns.

LAST YEAR | Golden West pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season, as the Rustlers knocked off defending state champion and then No. 1 state-ranked Riverside 37-36 in Week 2 at home. 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's win.
 
UP NEXT | The Rustlers will play at home for consecutive games when they host Allan Hancock College in a Week 3 matchup on Sep. 13. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Rustler Stadium.