Pictured L-R: Golden West quarterback, Will Burns, & Mt. SAC running back, Devin Miles

Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto

Mt. SAC is the only program in the state of California that has full control over its ranking and postseason position.

If the top-ranked Mounties defeat their visitors from Golden West on Saturday night, they’ll enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.

Golden West (8-1, 6-0), the state’s No. 4 program, enters Saturday’s title tilt on a six-game win streak.

Mt. SAC (9-0, 6-0) has statistical edges in almost every category.

The Mounties lead the Rustlers in points scored (361-280), least points allowed (113-138), average margin of victory (45-14 to 35-17), total offense (436-400) and rushing yards (217-182).

However, games aren’t won or lost on paper.

And MSAC is taking nothing for granted.

One of the more intriguing storylines includes the ability of both defenses to slow down the others’ ground games.

Golden West surrenders just 48 rushing yards per game, while the Mounties average 217 yards on the ground.

On the flip side, MSAC has given up an average of 43 rushing yards each Saturday night, and the Rustlers have gained approximately 182 yards on the ground through the first nine games.

Devin Miles leads both programs with 877 rushing yards on 120 carries.

His 10 rushing TDs is more than the top four GWC running backs combined.

Miles also has 13 receptions for 182 and two scores.

Jayson Cortes is another workhorse for the Mounties.

Cortes has carried the ball 65 times for 376 yards and four TDs.

Will Burns, the Rustlers quarterback, leads his program in carries (81), yards (572) and rushing TDs (5).

Burns has also completed 121-of-190 for 1,524 yards.

He’s tossed 20 TD passes and seven interceptions.

Mt. SAC has a two-quarterback attack with Jack Benson and Noah Fuailetolo.

Benson is 55-for-79 for 866 yards.

He’s thrown 10 TD passes and two picks.

Fuailetolo has completed 73-of-117 for 832 yards.

He’s totaled nine TDs and three interceptions.

Robert Sarmiento has been Burns’ favorite target, catching 31 passes for 315 yards and a pair of TDs.

Trey Nelson (22-for-362 & 4 TDs), Noah Burdick (20-for-249 & 2 TDs) and Colin Payne (10-for-224 & 4 TDs) have been key for the Rustlers’ receiving corps.

De’shon Thompson (26-for-306 & 3 TDs), Pierce Brown (15-for-148 & 2 TDs), Nicolas Ceballos (12-for-171 & 2 TDs) and Juwan Grant (12-for-280 & 4 TDs) have combined for 65 catches for 905 yards and 11 TDs.

Mt. SAC’s Darrell Tripline leads both programs with 43 tackles.

Juan Salas is second in tackles (35) for the Mounties, and he’s tied with Brayden Hapner and Harold Peters with two picks apiece.

Juruan Hardin has totaled 32 tackles and a team-high six sacks.

Kalim Mikhail has 31 tackles, including four for-loss.

Darien Jackson (18 tackles & 4.5 sacks) and Mathias Malaki-Donaldson (15 tackles &4 sacks) have combined for 33 tackles and 8.5 sacks for a MSAC defense that surrenders just 14 points per game.

The kickoff is set for 6.

By the Numbers:
Records: GW (8-1, 6-0); MS (9-0, 6-0)
Points Scored: GW (280); MS (361)
Points Allowed: GW (138); MS (113)
Average Margin of Victory: GW (35-17); MS (45-14)
Passing Yards Per Game: GW (218); MS (220)
Rushing Yards Per Game: GW (182); MS (217)
Total Offense Per Game: GW (400); MS (436)
Total Offense Allowed: GW (259); MS (254)
Passing Yards Allowed: GW (212); MS (212)
Rushing Yards Allowed: GW (48); MS (43)
Most Points Scored in a Game: GW (49 vs ELAC & OCC); MS (62 vs OCC)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: GW (36 vs Riverside); MS (21 vs Mt. San Jacinto)
Least Points Allowed in a Game: GW (7 vs ELAC, Cerritos & Citrus); MS (3 vs OCC)
Golden West’s Road Record: 4-0
Mt. SAC’s Home Record: 4-0
Current Win Streak: GW: (6); MS (9)
Last Meeting: 11/11/23: Mt. SAC 33, Golden West 21
JCAB State Ranking: GW (4); MS (1)
CCCSIA State Ranking: GW (5); MS (1)

Stat Leaders:

Quarterbacks:
Will Burns (GW): 121-of-190 for 1,524 yards, 20 TDs & 7 INT
Jack Benson (MS): 55-for-79 for 866, 10 TDs & 2 INT
Noah Fuailetolo (MS): 73-for-117 for 832, 9 TDs & 3 INT

Running Backs:
Devin Miles (MS): 120-for-877 & 10 TDs
Will Burns (GW): 81-for-572 yards & 5 TDs
Jayson Cortes (MS): 65-for-376 & 4 TDs
Kendric Thomas (GW): 54-for-290 & 1 TD
Aaron Mitchell: (GW): 50-for-245 & 1 TD
Beck Walker (GW): 66-for-203 & 2 TDs
Adrion Boyd (MS): 31-for-144
Samuel Green (MS): 24-for-139 & 4 TDs

Receivers:
Robert Sarmiento (GW): 31-for-315 & 2 TDs
Trey Nelson (GW): 22-for-362 & 4 TDs
De’shon Thompson (MS): 26-for-306 & 3 TDs
Noah Burdick (GW): 20-for-249 & 2 TDs
Colin Payne (GW): 10-for-224 & 4 TDs
Pierce Brown (MS): 15-for-148 & 2 TDs
Devin Miles (MS): 13-for-182 & 2 TDs)
Nicolas Ceballos (MS): 12-for-171 & 2 TDs
Juwan Grant (MS): 12-for-280 & 4 TDs

Defensive Leaders:

Tackles:
Darrell Tripline (MS): 43
Brandon Soleau (GW): 41
Juan Salas (MS): 35
Juruan Hardin (MS): 32
Kalim Mikhail (MS): 31
Caine Elroy (GW): 30
Jesse Schumacher (GW): 30

Sacks:
Juruan Hardin (MS): 6
Darien Jackson (MS): 4.5
Mathias Malaki-Donaldson (MS): 4
Andrew Jordan (GW): 3
Julien Lopez (MS): 2.5
Christian Petero (GW): 2.5
Terahiti Wolfe (GW): 2
Daniel Viramontes (GW): 2

Interceptions (2 or More):
Juan Salas (MS): 2
Harold Peters (MS): 2
Brayden Hapner (MS): 2

Golden West Schedule & Results:
9/7: GW 27, Bakersfield 25
9/14: GW 37, Riverside 36
9/21: SD Mesa 22, GW 7
9/28: GW 49, ELAC 7
10/5: GW 45, Citrus 7
10/17: GW 49, Orange Coast 10
10/26: GW wins via forfeit over SBVC
11/2: GW 31, Long Beach 24
11/9: GW 34, Cerritos 7
11/16: GW at Mt. SAC

Mt. SAC Schedule & Results:
9/7: MSAC 38, Mt. San Jacinto 21
9/14: MSAC 41, Allan Hancock 19
9/28: MSAC 41, Citrus 20
10/5: MSAC win via forfeit over SBVC
10/19: MSAC 61, Cerritos 14
10/24: MSAC 51, ELAC 7
11/2: MSAC 62, OCC 3
11/9: MSAC 44, Long Beach 14
11/16: Golden West at MSAC

National Central Standings:
Mt. SAC (9-0, 6-0)
Golden West (8-1, 6-0)
Long Beach (5-4, 4-2)
Citrus (5-4, 3-3)
Cerritos (4-5, 3-3)
ELAC (2-7, 1-5)
OCC (1-8, 1-5)

Final Week Schedule:
Golden West at Mt. SAC
Citrus at Long Beach
ELAC at Cerritos
OCC will defeat SBVC via forfeit