Torres, Wagner Help Warriors Zero in on Beach Bowl Victory over Rustlers

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. --- El Camino College ran all over Golden West and BJ Wagner recorded a key interception as the Warriors scored a 22-19 victory over the Rustlers in the 2023 Beach Bowl on Monday afternoon at Golden West Field.

The Warriors (7-4) pounded the lauded Rustlers (8-3) defense on the ground gaining 249 rushing yards on the day while attempting just 11 passes. Jakai Torres had just six carries on the day but he punched in three of them for touchdowns, none of them longer than five yards. He also recorded a two-point conversion to put ECC up by three points in the final quarter. He would go on to be named the Offensive Player of the Game.

Meanwhile, Wagner helped spearhead a defense that held the Rustlers offense in check for most of the first half and made the key defensive play of the game in the fourth quarter to help the Warriors hang on to the lead and eventually score the win.

After a quiet first quarter, the Warriors put together scoring drives of 12 plays and nine plays to score a pair of Torres touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead. The Warriors defense held firm until the end of the half as the Rustlers capped off a 10-play, 65-yard drive with a touchdown as time expired in the quarter to cut the Warriors lead to 14-7 at the break.

In the second half, the Rustlers took the lead thanks to a pair of scoring drives that took up a combined 10:06 of the quarter. But the Rustlers missed both extra points, giving them just a five-point lead at 19-14 and it proved costly.

The Warriors took the final possession of the third quarter and mounted a massive 16-play, 73-yard drive that took up 6:40 before Torres punched in his final touchdown of the game with 11:01 left in regulation. He would then convert the two-point attempt to give ECC a three-point lead.

The defense did the rest with Wagner providing the highlight of the day. The Rustlers responded to the Warriors' scoring drive with a long drive of their own, going 51 yards on eight plays to get to the ECC 24 with a chance to take the lead or at the very least tie the game. Wagner would be named the game's Defensive Player of the Game.

But on third down, Rustlers quarterback Braden Siri attempted to take the lead with a pass into the end zone intended for receiver Caleb Dochnal, who got behind the defense and looked poised to make the grab in the back of the end zone. But Wagner leaped and snatched the ball out of the air with one hand, his right arm full extended behind him. The interception killed the Rustlers drive and kept the Warriors in front for good.

The ECC defense did not allow the Rustlers to cross midfield in their final two drives to seal the win.

With the victory, the Warriors are now 4-2 in six straight postseason bowl appearances under head coach Gifford Lindheim. They are now 3-1 all-time in the Beach Bowl and improved their overall record against the Rustlers to 19-3-1 since the teams first met in 1979.

Aside from a forfeit loss to Golden West in 2010 due to an ineligible player, the Warriors have not lost on the field to the Rustlers since Sept. 10, 1993, a 30-23 decision.