CSM cements top Norcal team spot with 28-21 win over Butte

Moleni's 25-yard TD run for 21-14 game lead (Photo by Patrick Nguyen / @patrophoto)
Moleni's 25-yard TD run for 21-14 game lead (Photo by Patrick Nguyen / @patrophoto)
October 1, 2022

Moleni 3 TDs; Williams 2 Key Sacks:

Ezra Moleni ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns and Fynn Williams recorded a pair of drive halting sacks as state No. 2 ranked College of San Mateo cemented its position atop Northern California community college football with a 28-21 victory over visiting No. 6 Butte College Saturday afternoon.
 
The game, unofficially "slated" to decide the north's best team entering league play, lived up to its billing. CSM (5-0) is now the only undefeated National Division squad among the north 18 contingents.
 
Following a "bye" week, Bay 6 league competition starts Oct. 15. Butte (3-2) and Sierra (4-1) are the co-favorites in the NorCal league, both having derailed defending B6, state and national champion City College of San Francisco –- while having lost to San Mateo.
 
CSM struck first against Butte and never trailed -- but still had to fight off the Roadrunners.
 
The Bulldogs took nearly ten minutes to take the opening kickoff 75 yards in 16 plays. Moleni took the ball into the end zone from two yards out, set-up by quarterback Richie Watts' fourth down 13-yard keeper.
 
"That 10-minute drive doesn't happen without Richie scrambling," said CSM coach Tim Tulloch.
 
WATTS LEADS STATE: The state's most efficient signal caller, Watts maintained his pick-free record, completing 9-of-16 passes for 153 yards, including a 31-yard TD pass to J'Wan Evans for a 14-7 halftime lead. Watts added 26 rushing yards.
 
He has a 72.5 season completion percentage (66 of 91) and 183.6 collegiate efficiency rating – leading the state in both categories!
 
The Bulldogs still needed an early fourth quarter 25-yard scoring run by Moleni to grab the lead for good at 21-14. Moleni rushed for 78 yards on that quick 4-play drive, opening it with a 53 yard run from his own 6-yard line. A 16-yard pass from Watts to Brendan Doyle set-up the TD.
 
CSM was unconventional on fourth down, when opponents expected the Bulldogs to utilize returning all-star kicker Gabe Plascencia. The most dramatic situation came with three minutes left in the game. Sitting on a 21-14 advantage, CSM lined-up for a 53-yard field goal attempt to, apparently, pad the lead. Holder Wes Brown, however, took the ball and ran 18 yards for a first down at the Butte 18. "Yes, that's something we practice," said Tulloch, while also praising the versatility of  Brown, a 6-5, 215-pound sophomore out of Carlmont High.
 
Two plays later Moleni scampered into the end zone from 12 yards out, putting the Bulldogs in firm command at 28-14 with 1:58 remaining.  
 
Butte did get a TD with two seconds left in the game, making the final score a bit closer.
 
WILLIAMS KEYS DEFENSE: Earlier, however, it was QB sacks by Williams that ended a pair of second half Butte threats. The 6-0, 200-pound freshman linebacker out of Serra, had another tackle for loss, a QB hurry, and nine solo tackles in the game.  
 
LEAGUE STARTS OCT. 15: CSM opens Bay 6 league play Oct. 15, hosting Laney College (4-1) at 1 p.m. Laney suffered its first lost, 14-13, to Fresno on Sept. 30.
 
The Bulldogs downed five state-ranked teams in non-league play and begin the Bay 6 with a pair of top 20 teams, including at Diablo Valley (3-2) on Oct. 21. "We play seven teams in a row that were in bowl games last year," said Tulloch.