Golden West’s Second Half Fuels Victory

Golden West shook off a sluggish first half, scoring all of its points in the second half in a 21-16 Mission Conference victory over Rancho Santiago Saturday at Santa Ana Stadium.

Quarterback John Shipp completed two passes for touchdowns and tailback Vance Senteno ran for another to lead the Rustlers (4-5, 2-2) to their second consecutive victory. The Dons (2-7, 1-3) stumbled to their seventh loss in their last eight games.

Rancho Santiago held a 3-0 halftime lead, but two third-quarter fumbles led to touchdowns for Golden West. On a bizarre play with 11 minutes 18 seconds remaining in the quarter, Dons quarterback Gabe Garcia completed a pass to offensive lineman Auega Tali. But Tali tossed the ball to the ground in disgust because he was an ineligible receiver. Golden West recovered at the Dons’ 45 and got another 15 yards for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a Rancho Santiago assistant coach, giving the Rustlers a first down at the 30.

Six plays later, Senteno scored on a one-yard run for a 7-3 Golden West lead with 9:36 left in the third quarter.

Defensive back Kyle Zimmerman recovered a Dons’ fumble to set up Shipp’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Youssef Semaan with 1:55 left in the third quarter.

Shipp’s four-yard toss to Wesley Kollar early in the fourth quarter gave the Rustlers a 21-9 lead.