Goldenwest closed out the season by hosting the Southern California Bowl game. The Rustlers faced off against Allan Hancock. The game started off a bit slow but Goldenwest made sure to establish dominance through out the whole game.
Goldenwest struck first, capitalizing on a critical mistake by Allan Hancock late in the first quarter. With 7:13 left on the clock, Goldenwest’s defense forced a fumble at Allan Hancock’s 9-yard line, setting up a short 2-play scoring drive. Running back Kendric Thomas punched in a 4-yard touchdown, giving Goldenwest an early 7-0 lead. Allan Hancock struggled to make any plays throughout the game. Although Caden Harris fought hard in the backfield, he frequently struggled because Goldenwest’s defensive line controlled the trenches.
Goldenwest extended their lead just before halftime with a 6-play, 59-yard drive. Quarterback Will Burns found his momentum, connecting Hideo Ray for a crucial 8-yard catch that set up a Beck Walker rushing touchdown. The Rustlers entered halftime with a 14-0 lead. The Bulldogs found a glimmer of hope in the opening moments of the second half. Running back Caden Harris electrified the crowd with a 58-yard touchdown run. They now trailed 14-7
However, Goldenwest would answer right back. On a big drive, Kendric Thomas broke loose for a 40-yard dash, setting up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Burns to Robert Sarmient. The Rustlers re-established their dominance with the score now being 21-7. Will Burns would manage to score with a run-in touchdown. Goldenwest was now in full control, with a score of 28-7. Goldenwest’s punter, Fernando Mancilla, delivered clutch punts to pin the Bulldogs deep in their own territory, making sure not to give them any chance of a late-game comeback. The defense would play a huge role in this victory. Nick Mendez, Hudson Letterman, Terahiti Wolf, Josh Clark, and Andrew Jordan were all in on sacks. In addition to forcing a turnover, Goldenwest had 12 tackles for loss. Apart from this, the defense would only allow 7 points for the fourth time in the season.
Goldenwest ended the season 9-2. They were victorious in the Southern California Bowl, making it the fourth straight year under head coach Nick Mitchell that they made the postseason. However, the Rustlers were looking to get into the Southern California playoffs but fell short. Despite the bowl game win, they were still left hungry for a playoff spot. Will next year be different for them?
