Griffins drop Rustlers into first-place tie

The Golden West College football team overcame a 27-7 deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead against visiting Grossmont on Saturday night at Orange Coast College.

But ultimately, the Rustlers could not overcome their own miscues, as they absorbed a 40-28 defeat to lose sole possession of first place in the Southern Conference.

Golden West (4-5, 3-1 in conference), can still earn at least a share of the conference title by defeating Fullerton (8-1, 3-1) in the regular-season finale on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Yorba Linda High.

The Rustlers recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and scored two plays later, when sophomore quarterback Adam Vance threw 23 yards to sophomore Zimari Manning for a 7-0 lead with just 16 seconds elapsed.

But Grossmont scored on its next two possessions, then Jordan Ellis returned an interception 42 yards to give the visitors a 20-7 cushion.

Golden West, which had not trailed in three previous Southern Conference games, clawed its way back on top, taking a 28-27 lead after freshman Desmond Bowden darted around the left side for a two-yard touchdown run with 11:21 left in the game.

But Grossmont freshman quarterback Brad Cagle kept making plays to help the Griffins (5-4, 1-3) regain control.

Cagle scrambled nine yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 8:40 left then, after Ellis returned the second of his three interceptions 44 yards to the Rustlers’ 12-yard line, Cagle hit sophomore Adrian Tolbert for a 27-yard touchdown pass to finalize the scoring with 7:10 left.

Cagle finished 18 for 37 for 228 yards and four touchdowns through the air, three on hookups with Tolbert, who had seven receptions for 134 yards.

Collins, who now has eight interceptions on the season, procured his third pick of the night to halt Golden West’s final possession.

Vance, who had thrown just three interceptions all season (in 161 attempts coming in), threw four interceptions on Saturday. He completed 29 of 47 for 343 yards and three touchdowns, but was sacked twice and hurried countless other times.

Three Grossmont touchdowns came following Golden West turnovers, while the Rustlers dropped one would-be touchdown pass in the end zone on a drive that produced nothing early in the third quarter.

Further, Rustlers defensive backs had their hands on at least two would-be interceptions, and the hosts committed a roughing-the-punter penalty, as well as two pass-interference penalties to aid the drive that gave Grossmont a 27-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

Zimari Manning had seven catches for 101 yards, including touchdown grabs of 23 and four yards, while Sheldon White finished with seven catches for 123 yards for the Rustlers.

“Maybe we came out a little asleep,” Golden West Coach Nick Mitchell said. “And, in the end, turnovers were a killer for us.”

Mitchell also praised Cagle, who consistently avoided a pass rush fueled by a steady stream of blitzes to make plays with the run and the pass.

Cagle rushed six times for 28 yards, including the aforementioned touchdown, and was sacked just once.

“[Cagle] was really elusive,” Mitchell said. “He did a great job of keeping plays alive.”

Mitchell said Bowden may have broken his collarbone, while freshman guard Ofaloto Kuma, considered the Rustlers’ best offensive lineman, is believed to have suffered a broken hand and a potentially serious knee injury.

Golden West is tied with Fullerton and Saddleback for first place, but the Rustlers already beat Saddleback, which finishes the regular season Saturday at home against Orange Coast.

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Southern Conference

Grossmont 40, Golden West 28

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Grossmont 20 – 7 – 0 – 13 – 40

Golden West 7 – 7 – 0 – 14 – 28

FIRST QUARTER

GWC – Manning 23 pass from Vance (Conaway kick), 14:44.

Gro – Smith 18 pass from Cagle (kick failed), 11:04.

Gro – Tolbert 26 pass from Cable (Erwin kick), 7:07.

Gro – Ellis 42 interception return (Erwin kick), 2:10.

SECOND QUARTER

Gro – Tolbert 15 pass from Cagle (Erwin kick), 7:33.

GWC – Manning 4 pass from Vance (Conaway kick), 3:18.

FOURTH QUARTER

GWC – Matute 28 pass from Vance (Conaway kick), 14:53.

GWC – Bowden 2 run (Conaway kick), 11:21.

Gro – Cagle 9 run (pass failed), 8:40.

Gro – Tolbert 27 pass from Cagle (Erwin kick), 7:10.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

Gro – Fulton, 18-77.

GWC – Ford, 10-49.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

Gro – Cagle 19-39-0, 229, 4 TDs.

GWC – Vance, 29-47-4, 342, 3 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

Gro – Tolbert, 7-134, 3 TDs.

GWC – Manning, 7-101, 2 TDs; Smith, 7-123.