JC Football Preview: Golden West vs. Palomar

Golden West (2-4, 1-0) vs. Palomar (3-3, 1-0)

When/where: 1 p.m. Saturday at Golden West

Key Rustlers: So. QB Adam Vance; So. WR Zimari Manning; Fr. SS Manase Time; Fr. MLB Joseph Inda.

Key Comets: Fr. RB Josh Bernard; Fr. QB Matt Romero; So. WR LaMont Chaney; So. LB Zach Galina.

Breakdown: The Rustlers, ranked No. 13 in Southern California, are coming off a 20-17 home upset of Saddleback, ranked No. 2 in the state at the time, in the conference opener…The Rustlers, playing their first game on campus, snapped a four-game losing streak with the Saddleback win, clinched with a 40-yard field goal as time expired…Golden West’s defense (No. 4 in points allowed — 18.3 per game — and No. 5 in yards allowed per contest —289.5) is among the best in SoCal, while its offense (No. 34 with 256.7 yards per game) is among the worst…Palomar, which edged Orange Coast, 28-27, on a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the conference opener, ranks No. 30 in SoCal in rushing yards (630), and No. 34 in both yards allowed per game (452) and passing yards allowed per game (nearly 282)…Palomar is plus-five in turnover ratio, while Golden West is plus-three…Time has a team-best 43 tackles, while Inda’s 34 tackles include nine for losses…Golden West defensive end Jaime Diaz shares the conference lead with five sacks…Romero has thrown for 1,308 yards and 11 touchdowns, with seven interceptions…Golden West has been outscored by opponents (113-109), while Palomar has a 168-165 season scoring edge.

— Barry Faulkner