Rustlers Rise to No. 5 in State Poll; Host No. 21 Allan Hancock in Final Non-League Game

No. 5 state-ranked Golden West College (2-0) hosts No. 21 Allan Hancock College (1-1) in its final non-league game of the season on Saturday (Sep. 13). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 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 | After another stunning upset of Riverside (ranked No. 2), Golden West climbed two spots to tie for the No. 5 position in this week's state poll of California community college football coaches by the JC Athletic Bureau. The Rustlers were ranked No. 7 in the past two polls. Allan Hancock checks in at a tie for the No. 21 spot after dropping from No. 17 in last week's rankings.

LAST WEEK | In a repeat of last year's Week 2 matchup, Golden West upset Riverside, this time by a final score of 42-35 at Rustler Stadium last Saturday. Golden West erased a 21-7 second-quarter deficit to pull off their second straight win over the Tigers who were once again were recognized as one of the state's top-ranked teams.

Golden West took over in the third by outscoring RCC 14-0. Quarterback Nick Banua tossed a pair of TDs, connecting with Will McKissick for 5 yards and Tanner Schmidt for 18 yards strikes to take a commanding 35-21 lead.

GWC totaled 467 yards of offense, just edging Riverside with 456 yards. Banua had another solid game, throwing for 229 yards on 20 of 32 passing with 3 TDs but a pair of interceptions. He also ran 11 times for 59 yards and a touchdown.

ABOUT ALLAN HANCOCK | The Bulldogs hit the road for the first time and suffered a 33-7 loss at Bakersfield. The lopsided affair saw Bakersfield exit the contest with 377 yards of total offense while the visiting crew only mustered 137 yards. The most notable difference came in the ground game with BC recording 189 net rushing yards compared to just nine in total for the Bulldogs.

Allan Hancock scored its lone points thanks to its defense, a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown by Dylan Heath.

AHC opened the season with a 42-20 victory at home over Orange Coast College.

LAST YEAR | Golden West and Allan Hancock met in the postseason as they both closed out solid campaigns with a matchup in the Southern California Bowl. The Rustlers cruised to the win at home, winning by a final score of 28-7.

GWC 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 120 yards and a TD.
 
UP NEXT | The Rustlers open their National Central League schedule on the road at Bakersfield College next Saturday (Sep. 20). Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.