First place is on the line in the Gold Coast Collegiate Conference as Grand Canyon faces Cal State Long Beach.

Long Beach is 3-0 and looking to finish 6-0, but first they have to get through GCU, San Diego, and Santa Barbara CC. The 49ers flyhalf Steven Bodley has done a good job keeping the scoreboard ticking over, and scrumhalf Roland Blackiston seems to always be there to score clutch tries.

For Grand Canyon, new to the conference, this is a chance to make a statement.

“We are looking forward to the match,” said Coach Ryan Kelly. “We really just need to play smart and play within the system. As a team still playing a high number of 18- and 19-year-old players, we have struggled at times with guys trying to make things happen on their own. When we play as a team and within our pattern and defensive structure, we can be very effective.”

Front-rowers Darien Pickett and Nick Kwasniewski played for the USA U20s last weekend and are back. However, Kwasniewski will not suit up for the ‘Lopes due to an injury.

“But we are fairly deep in the front row,” said Kelly. Watch for big freshman Lincoln Sii, a product of the Temecula HS program in California, to start in place of Kwasniewski.

Also on the slate for this weekend, current conference leaders USC will face Santa Barbara City College. Cal State Fullerton faces UC Irvine in a meeting of winless teams.

Latest Standings.