RUSTLERS (right) defeated Long Beach City 51-36 in the Central Conference Bowl game. Western Sun Photo Adam Stites
By Adam Stites
Western Sun sports editor
The Golden West football team capped their season with a 51-36 victory over Long Beach City College in the Central Championship Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 19 at LeBard Stadium. The team, led by head coach Nick Mitchell, closed out its season with four consecutive wins.
“We battled, we lost some close games, but we stuck together and I think finishing with four straight and winning this bowl shows how tough we are and how good we are,” quarterback Raymond Huizar said.
Although, the Rustlers beat LBCC by a 42-0 score in their season opener, it was the Vikings that found themselves on the scoreboard first when their opening drive culminated in a four-yard touchdown pass to give them a 7-0 lead.
Not to be out-done, GWC responded with four unanswered touchdowns. With a Danny Anaya-field goal at the end of the first half and three more touchdowns in the second half, the Rustlers cruised to their largest offensive out put of the season.
Huizar deflected the praise to the offensive line who he said had their best game of the season.
“[The offensive line] opens up everything and allows me to do what I can do,” he said. “The receivers ran perfect routes and everybody did their job.”
Huizar finished with 340 yards passing and three touchdowns, including two to his favorite target of 2011, Jared Cohen. Cohen finished with nine receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns to finish with 12 touchdowns for the season.
Golden West also ran the ball very successfully, out-rushing LBCC 213 yards to 73.
Running backs Victor Moananu, Michael Pierre and Cody Johnson each recorded a touchdown and combined for 179 of GWC’s total rushing yards.
Defensively, the Rustlers were able to do enough to slow the potent Vikings passing offense down, recording five interceptions.
Chris Fiscus intercepted LBCC quarterback Ryan Craighead twice while Dashawn Miller, Ruben Ortega and Roth Mendoza each recorded an interception.
With the victory, Golden West finished their season with a 7-4 overall record with only a single loss in conference play.
