OROVILLE -- Although College of San Mateo completed three 4th quarter touchdown drives, the Bulldogs fell just short of overcoming a 23-point deficit as their national-leading 10-game football win streak came to an end, 30-28, at Butte College on Saturday afternoon.
San Mateo came into the game with a 4-0 season record and ranked No. 1 among California's 67 teams, as defending 3C4A champion; also No. 1 nationally in the Massey Ratings. Butte was No. 7 in the state and now matches the Bulldogs record at 4-1 at the end non-league play.
While staging the fourth quarter rally with three long drives, CSM did not allow Butte a first down in the period until the last Roadrunners series. Butte tried to keep the Bulldogs from a final possession, following what proved to be the game's last TD, a Lolo Mataele 1-yard TD to complete a 65-yard San Mateo drive.
Butte then advanced to near mid-field, where two short runs attempt to get a first down required measurements before the Roadrunners were able to extend the drive -- and the reach the CSM 45 before finally punting the ball to the Bulldogs with just 22 seconds remaining.
San Mateo, with no timeouts, started on its own 19. Following two short pass completions to Nico Caruso, quarterback Anthony Grigsby was faced with a last chance with three seconds remaining on his own 38. He connected for 19 yards, into Roadrunner territory, with Jerome Patterson -- who then lateralled the ball in a futile attempt to extend the play, since there was no time left for a field goal attempt. The lateral, which was fumbled, ended the game.
Patterson had put the Bulldogs on the board early in the second quarter, on a 63-yard pass play from Grigsby.
But CSM got in trouble early, falling behind 16-0 after giving Butte the ball twice on first quarter pass interceptions inside the ten.
In the end, the Bulldogs could not overcome six turnovers (four interceptions). Butte did not turn the ball over.
Grigsby was, otherwise, effective, completing 23 of 48 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Anthony Freeman ended the first two fourth quarter drives of 58 yards (with a 3-yard catch) and 55 yards (36-yard play). A conversion run by Grigsby after Freeman's first TD made it 30-15. A conversion pass after the next score failed, however, and left the Bulldogs down by two scores at 30-21, with 9:59 left to play.
Patterson had six receptions for 120 yards and Freeman caught four for 52 yards.
Nate Sancez rushed for 53 yards on 14 carries and caught five passes for 61 yards.
Linebacker Cyrus Durham led the San Mateo defense with 12 tackles (8 solo). Arona Matau had eight tackles.
Christian Vaughn scored four Butte touchdowns, running for 162 yards on 22 carries.
San Mateo had 404 total offense yards and limited Butte to 300.
--San Mateo has a bye this week before opening defense of its Bay 6 League title at Laney College in Oakland on Oct. 13.
