Huge fourth-quarter surge sends No. 1 Golden West to regional championship

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Top-seeded Golden West College is headed to the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) Championship after an amazing 56-38 come-from-behind win over No. 4 Ventura College on Saturday at Rustler Stadium in the SoCal semifinals.

The Rustlers trailed the Pirates 31-21 at the 12:53 mark in the fourth quarter before Golden West responded with five straight touchdowns to put the game out of reach and take a commanding 56-31 lead.

Freshman wide receiver Tanner Schmidt, the National Central League Offensive Player of the Year, proved worthy of the award. He had a huge game in leading the Rustlers with 10 catches for 147 yards and 4 TDs.

His third touchdown of the contest, a 37-yard grab from quarterback Kauna'oa Kamakawiwo'ole with 10:05 left in the contest, put the Rustlers back out in front for good at 35-31.

Golden West led 21-14 at the break after a solid opening half. Schmidt hauled in a pair of touchdowns from 12 and 7 yards while Aaron Mitchell smashed in for a 1-yard TD for the Rustlers' scores.

The Pirates regrouped and responded with 17 straight points, including a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown by Charlie Neos that gave VC a 10-point advantage early in the fourth quarter.

But the Rustlers immediately took momentum back on their side. Drew Faulkner took the ensuing kickoff nearly the length of the field, running 95 yards for an electric kickoff return touchdown to start the Golden West late-game surge.

Schmidt caught his big 37-yard TD to give the Rustlers the lead and followed that with his final touchdown from 4 yards out. Kamakawiwo'ole closed out his third straight drive with a passing TD, this time to Dom Thompson for 18 yards to extend the GWC lead to 49-31.

On Ventura's next drive, Brandon Soleau, the National Central League Defensive Player of the Year, came up with back-to-back huge plays. He followed a crushing play to break up a VC pass across the middle with a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown to ultimately ice the Rustlers' victory.

The Golden West defense came up with big plays when needed most. Ventura quarterback Braesen Leon, who had thrown just 2 interceptions all season, was picked off three times by the Rustlers. Golden West also forced a fumble and got sacks from Soleau and Javon Taylor.

On offense, Kamakawiwo'ole had a solid game of his own. He completed 20 of 31 passes for 273 yards and 5 TDs.

Golden West, 11-0 overall, is now headed to its second Southern California Championship game under head coach Nick Mitchell since 2021. The Rustlers will host either No. 2 Saddleback College or No. 3 Mt. San Antonio College in the SCFA Championship next Saturday (Dec. 6) at Rustler Stadium.

(Golden West College Athletics)