Never recovering from their slow start, the Vaqueros were defeated 39-22 Saturday by the Golden West Rustlers.
The game began well as the Vaqs were handed the two first points and a 2-0 lead when a center snap on a Golden West punt attempt sailed out of bounds.
But Glendale could not capitalize on the ensuing possession as the first touchdown of the game was scored by Golden West quarterback Clark Evans with an 11-yard run at the beginning of the second quarter for a 6-2 lead when the extra point was missed.
Golden West tacked on two more touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 20-2 halftime lead.
Glendale made it a game in the second half when running back Joshua Nakamoto scored his first of two touchdown on a 2-yard run to make the score 20-8. A burst of enthusiasm from the crowd got the Vaqs going again at the beginning of the fourth quarter as Nakamoto scored again on another 2-yard run as Glendale closed to within 20-14.
Unfortunately, this rally was short lived as Golden West scored yet another touchdown minutes later on a one-yard run by Chris Spencer to make it 26-14. Later, the Rustlers Michael Pierre tacked on a 59-yard run down the visitors sideline to make the score 32-14.
The Vaqueros’ Antonio Bray brought his team a little closer when he took the ensuing kickoff 89 yards on an electrifying touchdown run cutting the Golden West lead to 32-22 before the Rustlers tacked on one more score to make the final 39-22.
When Glendale Head Coach John Rome was asked what improvements could be made for future games, he replied, “Offensively, I’d like to see us better in our passing. Defensively I’d like to see us tackle better . It’s playing at that game speed. They’ll be better because of this.”
Bray had 182 yards of kickoff return yardage and also rushed for 24 yards on eight carries and caught two passes for 62 yards. Jacob Meza paced the defensive effort with 12 tackles and Cornell McTier added 11.
Glendale continues its non-conference schedule with a pair of away games at East Los Angeles College Saturday at 6 p.m. and at Allan Hancock College Sept. 25 at 6 p.m.
The Vaqueros start American Conference Pacific Division play at home Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. against Los Angeles Valley College.
