Mitchell earns career win No. 100; GWC win at Cerritos sets up first-place showdown

NORWALK – Career win No. 100 for Golden West College head coach Nick Mitchell will definitely be one of his most memorable.

With the score tied and time winding down in the fourth quarter, Rustlers' quarterback Parker Awad hit receiver Tyler Hampton for a game-winning 23-yard touchdown with just one second left on the clock to stave off overtime and give No. 7 state-ranked GWC a hard-fought 21-14 win at Cerritos College on Saturday night.

The victory extended the Rustlers' winning streak to seven games. Golden West improved to 8-1 overall and stays perfect in the National Central League with a 6-0 mark heading into next week's regular-season finale against unbeaten Mt. San Antonio College (9-0, 6-0 NCL).

Next Saturday's (Nov. 11) 12 p.m. contest in Huntington Beach will decide the 2023 Central League championship as well as determine postseason playoff positions.

But first, the Rustlers had to get by a hungry Cerritos squad.

The two teams battled over a scoreless opening quarter and it remained that way until late in the second.

A blocked field goal by Marquis Brown gave the Rustlers the ball back on their own 28-yard line with 3:37 left in the half. Quarterback Luther Richesson led GWC on an 8-play, 72-yard drive that was capped by a 17-yard TD pass to Dasani McIntosh. Golden West took a 7-0 lead into the break.

Awad extended the Golden West lead to 14-0 in the third after connecting with Jake Troxell for a 6-yard TD to close out an 8-play, 80-yard drive. The Rustlers were up 14-0 after three quarters until the Cerritos offense finally came alive in the fourth.

Cerritos QB Michael Bruner and Andre Lampley hooked up for consecutive touchdowns. Lampley's 22-yard reception at 11:55 cut the GWC lead in half while his 30-yard catch with 3:29 to play tied up the game.

The Rustlers couldn't get much going on their ensuing drive while the defense forced the Falcons to punt after three plays to get the ball back with just 40 seconds left.

On the game-winning drive, Awad tossed three straight completions, including 10 and 14-yard passes to Nate Jimenez, to get the ball down to the Cerritos 26-yard line. After a 3-yard rush by Awad, he found Hampton for the go-ahead touchdown.

The Falcons attempted some trickery on the ensuing kickoff but after three laterals, Hercules Ortega came up with the final tackle on the play to end the game.

Christian Petero led the defense with 10 tackles, including 2 for losses. Brown put together another solid night as he totaled 6 tackles, an interception, and a blocked field goal. Harrison Cofell, Daniel Viramontes, and Jakari Embry all had sacks.

On offense, Awad completed 11 of 23 passes for 159 yards and 2 TDs. Ralph Ekechi ran 11 times for 53 yards and Hampton led receivers with 4 catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.