For the first time since 2017, the Los Medanos College Mustangs are heading to a bowl game, and this time they get to host it in front of their home crowd. The Mustangs finished the regular season 4-1 in conference play and 9-1 overall, earning a spot in the Golden State Bowl, which will be Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. against Coalinga.

All season long, LMC showed they had one of the top offenses in the state, averaging 541.2 yards per game and 49 points per game, both top five in the Bay Valley Conference league. The defense also acted as a safety blanket all season, allowing just 23.5 points on average and a frenzy of turnovers to get the offense back on the field. That balance helped turn big moments into big wins, including a 72-28 win over Contra Costa to close out the regular season.

Head coach Chris Shipe says his team is laser focused heading into their battle against Coalinga. “We’re very excited for this opportunity and to be playing an 11th game,” he said. “Finishing 9-1 during the regular season was a big accomplishment for us, but we have one game left.”

Shipe said the team isn’t treating this game as just an extra week, but they see it as a chance to display their talent and hard work behind the scenes to a huge crowd. “We just want to make sure we present our campus community and the local community to the highest level,” he said. “We just want to go out and perform like we have all season.” Even after a long schedule, Shipe said the team has stayed focused week after week. “Our guys have been working hard for this opportunity, and they will be ready come Saturday.”

A win would mean a spot in the record books. “Winning 10 games during a season would be the best an LMC football has ever done,” Shipe said. “Our team wants to be the best ever.” The Mustangs will get their shot at history Saturday in front of their home crowd against Coalinga.