Rustlers Named Top Seed for Southern California Regional Playoffs

The run towards a state championship begins for the Golden West College Rustlers. On Sunday, the Rustlers received the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Southern California Regional Playoffs.

The Rustlers, ranked No. 1 in the state heading into Week 10, are coming off a 33-22 win at Fullerton College on Saturday that wrapped up a perfect 10-0 regular season as well as the National Central League championship.

With a new six-team format in place this season, Golden West gets an opening-round bye and will host a SCFA semifinal game on Nov. 29 against the winner of No. 5 Cerritos College (8-2) and No. 4 Ventura College (9-1). Those two squads are set to play on Nov. 22 in Ventura at 5 p.m. in a regional quarterfinal playoff game.

Southern League champion Saddleback College (9-1) earned the No. 2 seed as well as the other first-round bye. The Bobcats will host either No. 6 El Camino College (8-2) or No. 3 Mt. San Antonio College (9-1) in a semifinal game on Nov. 29. El Camino and Mt. SAC will battle in a quarterfinal game on Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. in Walnut.

The Southern California Championship game is set for Dec. 6 with the winner hosting the 3C2A State Championship on Dec. 13 against the Northern California champion.

Defending state champ College of San Mateo (9-1) was named the No. 1 seed for the Northern California Playoffs. Also competing for the NorCal title will be No. 2 Modesto Junior College (8-2), No. 3 Diablo Valley College (9-1), No. 4 City College of San Francisco (7-3), No. 5 Fresno City College (6-4), and No. 6 Butte College (8-2).