Golden West Takes Over Top Spot in State Rankings; Hosts Canyons in Regular-Season Home Finale

New No. 1 state-ranked Golden West College (8-0, 5-0 NCL) hosts College of the Canyons (3-5, 3-2 NCL) in its final regular-season home game on Saturday (Nov. 1). The National Central League matchup is set for a 12 p.m. kickoff at Rustler Stadium in Huntington Beach.

The Rustlers are 8-0 on the field for the first time since 2015 as they continue their perfect run through the 2025 regular season. Golden West is currently tied with Fullerton College (7-1, 5-0 NCL) on top of the Central League standings with just two games to play.

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 shares the state's No. 1 ranking in this week's poll of California community college coaches by the JC Athletic Bureau. Undefeated Golden West and Ventura, both 8-0, each earned 341 points with the Rustlers getting eight of 14 first-place votes. Previous No. 1 and defending state champion College of San Mateo from Northern California had its 17-game winning streak come to an end.

LAST WEEK | Quarterback Kauna'oa Kamakawiwo'ole tossed three touchdowns, including a pair to wide receiver Tanner Schmidt, to help lead Golden West to a 27-19 National Central League win over No. 9 Cerritos College on Saturday afternoon at Rustler Stadium.

Golden West was able to get past a tough Cerritos squad that came into the contest riding a five-game winning streak and was unbeaten in Central League play. The Rustlers had won the last two meetings between the squads and extended that streak to three straight with Saturday's victory.

The Rustlers went into halftime with a 20-6 lead after Aaron Mitchell ran in for a two-yard TD run. Schmidt's second touchdown reception from Kamakawiwo'ole at 1:02 left in the third all but sealed the victory and gave Golden West a commanding 27-9 advantage.

Kamakawiwo'ole had an efficient game, completing 23 of 29 passes for 315 yards with 3 TDs and no interceptions. Schmidt had season-highs of 9 receptions and 177 yards to go with 2 touchdowns.

Soleau paced the defense with 11 tackles. Kruz Wheeler had a solid game with 9 tackles and a sack while Josh Clark also totaled 9 tackles.

ABOUT CANYONS | COC freshmen Jomar Adams and Jared Mims each hauled in long touchdown passes, and the Cougars' defense came away with one final stop as Canyons defeated Orange Coast College 20-19 on Saturday.

The victory was the second straight for Canyons which has posted a 2-1 record since its mid-season bye week. All three of the Cougars' victories this season have now come by six or fewer points. Meanwhile, COC lost its first three contests of the year by a combined nine points.

LAST MEETING | Golden West and Canyons are facing off for the first time since a 2021 Southern California Regional Playoff game in Huntington Beach. The SCFA semifinal game saw the Rustlers' defense shine as game most valuable player and Southern League defensive player of the year Codie Sauvao tallied three interceptions to help lead GWC to a 20-10 victory and send the Rustlers to the SoCal championship. 

Jake Cipres nailed a 29-yard field goal and quarterback Jake Retzlaff tossed a 39-yard touchdown to Tanner Branson in the fourth quarter to seal the Rustlers' comeback win.

Golden West has won three of the last five meetings between the squads.

2021: W, 20-10
2019: L, 35-24
2018: L, 26-9
2013: W, 27-21 (OT)
2012: W, 25-19 (OT)

UP NEXT | The Rustlers close out the regular season with a huge showdown at Fullerton College next Saturday (Nov. 8). Kickoff is scheduled for noon at FC's Sherbeck Field.