CSM wins 5th league football title in 6 seasons; is top NorCal state playoff entry

College of San Mateo is headed to the state football playoffs as the Bay 6 League champion and expected top seed in Northern California after rolling past defending league and state kingpin City College of San Francisco, 31-13, on Saturday.

The Bulldogs reclaimed the B6 title for a fifth time in six seasons. The only interruption was in 2021, when CCSF edged CSM in the regular season finale. This time it was all San Mateo -- for a 24-0 halftime advantage that provided all the points needed.

CSM EXPECTS TO BE AT HOME THROUGHOUT PLAYOFFS:
San Mateo will host a first round California Community College Athletic Association state playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 26, most likely against Valley Conference champion Modesto JC, at 12 noon --  according to CSM coach Tim Tulloch. As top seed, the Bulldogs will be at home for all state playoff games -- if they stay alive. That includes the state championship game on Dec. 10 -- which the Northern California champion hosts this year.

Laney College shares the Bay 6 title with the Bulldogs, both with 4-1 records. CSM should be the No. 1 team, however, having beaten state at-large entry Laney -- as well as the other league champions advancing to the playoffs: likely No. 3 seed American River (NorCal league) and No. 4 Modesto JC (Valley). Laney expects to receive the No. 2 seed and host American River in the other Northern Calif. semifinal, according to other Bay 6 coaches.

Richie Watts completed 19 of 30 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score against CCSF, improving his league pacesetting collegiate efficiency rating to 169.6 (No. 3 in the state). Ezra Moleni rushed for 102 yards and a state-leading 13th rushing touchdown. He leads the north's National Division in rushing at 89.4 yards per game and the Bay 6 in all-purpose running (102.3 average yards).

CSM also had big defensive plays. Taniela Latu had three sacks and three pass break-ups. Malik Johnson had nine tackles, two for losses. Brian Pierce returned a punt 51 yards for a TD, resulting in the 24-0 halftime lead. Justin Sinclair had a norcal leading 5th interception. (He ranks second in the state's National Division.)

San Francisco was limited to a season low 156 yards of total offense, just 39 net yards in the first half.

"It was a good team win," said Tulloch, who especially praised his defense. "And we scored on special teams too."

San Mateo struck first on a first quarter 37-yard field goal by returning all-state kicker Gabe Plascencia. The Bulldogs made it 10-0 on the first play of the second period, with Watts connecting with Brendan Doyle on a 30-yard TD toss, completing a quick 4-play drive. Moleni's 4-yard rush ended an 80-yard drive to make it 17-0.

After the Rams obtained some breathing room with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns, CSM worked the clock down to 2:53 remaining with a 59-yard, 11-play drive -- with Watts sneaking in from the one. A sack and a tackle by Latu limited CCSF to minus two yards on its next possession, turning the ball back on the Rams eight. The Bulldogs used two kneel downs to end it.

CSM HAS TOP KICKERS:
When San Mateo needed to punt, Caleb Ojeda kept the Rams deep, averaging 46.8 yards on six kicks, including five inside the 20, increasing his NorCal-leading season average to 40.5. In addition to his field goal, Plascencia had four conversion kicks, staying perfect on PATs for the season and leading NorCal National players in kickscoring with 65 points. 

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--Fred Baer, CSM Sports Information