Community College Football : Golden West Gets Defensive, Knocks Off Long Beach, 17-16

Golden West College struggled with its offense during most of its season opener with Long Beach Saturday night, but the Rustler defense remained solid in a 17-16 victory before about 800 spectators at Orange Coast College.

The Rustlers had only one impressive drive in the second half and it started with just 4:27 left and Long Beach leading, 16-10.

The defense had forced Long Beach to punt from its 11 prior to the game-winning drive. Golden West got the ball on the Long Beach 45 after the punt.

Long Beach was called for pass interference on the first play, moving the ball to the 30. Quarterback Joe Napoli then completed a 10-yard pass to tight end Dan Westmoreland.

Golden West worked the ball to the 15 but was faced with a fourth and five with 3:32 left. Napoli, given good protection, was able to complete a 14-yard pass to Darrell Payne to the 1-yard line.

It took Napoli two tries, but he reached the end zone on a half-yard dive with 2:22 left to tie the score, 16-16. KC Satterthwaite kicked the extra point to give Golden West a 17-16 lead.

Long Beach got the ball to the Golden West 29 with some help in the final 1:30. Long Beach quarterback Jeff Failla completed a 14-yard pass to Steve Calhoun to put the Vikings on the Golden West 44. But Golden West defensive end Mike Cover was called for roughing the passer, putting the ball on the Golden West 29.

Long Beach was then called for holding, moving the ball back to the 39 with 1:26 left. Long Beach was called for 16 penalties for 145 yards in the game.

After an incomplete pass on first down, the Golden West defense made its final big play. Outside linebacker Todd Conway pressured Failla, hitting the quarterback’s arm before he released the ball and causing a fumble that was recovered by Golden West’s Cover at midfield. Golden West ran out the clock from there.

“I just came in on a sweep from my end,” Conway said. “It wasn’t a blitz or anything. . . . The defense just kept playing hard tonight. We have to let the offense get time to get going.”

Golden West led, 10-6, at halftime, but Long Beach took a 13-10 lead on a 15-yard run by Andre Johnson with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.

Long Beach had a first down on the Golden West 4 with 12 minutes left, but Golden West pushed the Vikings back two yards in three plays. Long Beach had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Ed Beaulac, who had missed an extra point attempt in the first half.

In another nonconference game:

Fullerton 34, College of the Desert 13--The Hornets took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards to score on an 11-yard pass from quarterback Victor Williams to wide receiver Mike Thomas in front of about 800 at Palm Desert.

Williams, a sophomore, was 12 of 16 for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns. He had two second-half scoring passes to sophomore wide receiver Tim Imperiali. The first was for 37 and the second was for 35. Imperiali had 6 receptions for 114 yards. Jeff Andrews led Fullerton rushers with 80 yards in 13 carries.

Fullerton had 312 yards in total offense and held Desert to 234 yards. Desert turned the ball over five times in the first half, including an interception by sophomore defensive back Craig Glatzhofer.