FLASHBACK: Rustlers nearly converted Third-&-83 vs. Mesa

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: September 23, 2024

The 20th Century logo of Golden West College

2024 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL – Recollections

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Playoffs and success have not been synonymous for the Denver Broncos in recent years.

The team’s most recent playoff win came in 2015, but it was a different AFC Wild Card round win during the 2011 season which draws parallels to the San Diego Mesa-Golden West series.

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, the former Heisman trophy winner, was having a less-than-stellar outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, yet the contest went into overtime.

Tim Tebow (left), Demaryius Thomas

Despite just 9-for-20 passing and 238 yards in regulation, Tebow’s fortunes turned on the very first play of the extra session.

With Pittsburgh expecting a rushing play, Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas on a shocking, 80-yard touchdown.

With one-on-one coverage, Tebow fired down the middle in stride to Thomas, who stiff-armed a defender, then raced untouched to the end zone.

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Thirty years earlier, Golden West converted a similar play, but it did not go for a score. However, it was historic for other reasons.

Trailing Mesa, 10-7, in the second quarter at Merrill Douglas Stadium, the Rustlers picked up a first down at the Olympians-16 and an opportunity to grab the lead.

Then disaster struck.

A pair of sacks, three holding penalties — two were obvious when a GWC lineman dragged a Mesa pass rusher from behind– then an unsportsman penalty against the head coach left the Rustlers with an astounding situation.

Resting at the Mesa-16 just moments earlier, the Rusters were now at their own 11-yard line. It was now third down and 83 yards to go.

That was not a typo. It was Eighty-three yards to go to garner a first down.

Just like in the NFL playoff game in January 2012, Golden West tossed an identical pass. Therre was a stiff-arm, then a break down the Mesa sideline.

The only difference: the Mesa free safety raced across the field just in time to push the wide receiver out of bounds at the Mesa-7.

The public address announcer made the call cleanly (since he was also official scorekeeper): “A gain of 82 yards.”

He also got in trouble for adding (with a touch of sarcasm): “Still short of the first down.”

The visiting crowd from north Orange County went livid — booing long and loud.

Unlike today’s version of football, when a team might have gone for it on 4th-and-1, the Rustlers elected to go for the game-tying field goal since it was only the first half.

However, the kick sailed wide right. Mssa scored the next 31 straight points and won 41-10.

Golden West finished the season with a 4-6 overall record, finishing one victory short of qualifying for a bowl berth.

Meanwhile, Mesa went to the fog-drenched Pony Bowl at Cerritos College (Saddleback won, 13-12, to capture the Southland championship).

The following week, officials with the state’s governing body for athletics, along with the college and professional football halls of fame were contacted. None kept such a record, but all never heard of a team needing 83 yards to gain a first down.

Was it an all-time record? Maybe. But until someone else offers their story, Golden West holds the unfortunate mark… and falling just a yard short of a conversion.