No. 1 Rustlers Complete 10-0 Regular Season, Capture Outright Central League Championship

FULLERTON – History was made on Saturday as No. 1 state-ranked Golden West College completed a perfect 10-0 run through the regular season with a 33-22 victory at No. 10 Fullerton College. The win over the Hornets also secured an outright National Central League championship. It marked Golden West's first conference title since 2021 and sixth in program history.

The Rustlers can now stake the claim as the only undefeated National Division team in the state. Previously-unbeaten Ventura College suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday night against Mt. SAC.

Golden West's win combined with the Ventura loss gives the Rustlers the No. 1 spot, as well as a first-round bye, for the upcoming Southern California Regional Playoffs. Opening-round games get underway on Nov. 22 with the Rustlers taking the field in SCFA semifinals on Nov. 29.

On Saturday, the Rustlers had to come from behind and erase a halftime deficit to pull off the win.

Golden West went out in front first, jumping out to a 13-0 lead after quarterback Kauna'oa Kamakawiwo'ole and Tanner Schmidt connected for touchdowns of 24 and 2 yards.

But Fullerton responded with a pair of touchdown runs by quarterback Jack Schierholz in the second quarter to go into the break with a 14-13 lead.

The second half belonged to the Rustlers as they went ahead for good. Kamakawiwo'ole led Golden West on a 12-play, 73-yard drive that finished up with an eight-yard TD pass to Will McKissick that gave the Rustlers back the lead at 20-14 with 8:17 to go in the third.

Kendric Thomas broke off a 36-yard touchdown run early in the fourth and Kamakawiwo'ole closed out the Rustlers' scoring by hitting Schmidt for his third TD of the game, this time for 77 yards, to extend the GWC advantage to 33-14 with 6:59 left in the contest.

Fullerton got a touchdown late to inch its way back in to the contest but on their final possession of the contest, Schierholz was picked off by Kekema Cosma to end the threat and seal the Golden West victory.

The Rustlers' offense used a balanced attack in the game, totaling 520 yards with 284 coming by the pass and 236 yards on the ground. Kamakawiwo'ole completed 23 of 34 passes for 284 yards with 4 TDs. Schmidt had a huge game with 9 receptions for 166 yards and 3 TDs.

Thomas led GWC on the ground with 120 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown. Aaron Mitchell also had a big game, rushing 24 times for 118 yards.

Brandon Soleau put together another impressive game on defense. He led the Rustlers with 11 tackles and had one of the squad's three interceptions in the game.

Golden West will now turn its attention to the postseason. Regional playoff brackets will be announced by the 3C2A on Sunday.