CSM Tops Modesto in Playoff Opener; Hosts ARC in NorCal Title Defense Next

SAN MATEO -- The stage is set for College of San Mateo to defend it Northern California football title against American River College on Saturday, Dec. 2, at noontime.

The Bulldogs dispatched 98-year rival Modesto JC, 41-19, in their first round 3C2A state playoff contest on Nov. 25 at College Heights Stadium behind a 5-touchdown performance by quarterback Anthony Grigsby. That was merely the first step for defending state (and mythical national) JC/CC champion San Mateo.

American River ousted City College of San Francisco, 41-6, in the other NorCal semifinal and will seek to avenge its only season loss -- to CSM, 24-23, in September.

CSM TOP RANKED TEAM REMAINING IN PLAYOFFS: The No. 3 state ranked Bulldogs are the top ranked team remaining in the final regular season JC Athletic Bureau poll of California's 67 community college teams and with equal the best won-loss record (10-1) – same as No. 4 American River.

The last two unbeatens in the National (state championship) Division lost in first round SoCal playoff openers Saturday: No. 1 Fullerton lost to No. 11 Ventura, 27-24, and No. 2 Mt. San Antonio fell to a late rally by No. 6 Riverside, 51-48. The winner of this Saturday's Riverside (10-1) at Ventura (8-3) showdown will host the state championship game Dec. 9.

Grigsby, a redshirt freshman, threw for four TDs and ran for a fifth against Modesto, completing 26 of 36 passes for 337 yards to raise his college efficiency rating to 180.1 (No. 3 overall in the state).

His first half strikes -- 4-yards to Terence Loville, 33-yards to Fidel Pitts and 6-yards to Jeremiah Patterson -- provided a 24-7 halftime lead (along with Caleb Ojeda's 23-yard field goal and conversion kicks) and the Bulldogs had their winning points. Grigsby completed the onslaught after the break with a 6-yard TD to 6-5 tight end Corey Le'aupepe, who jumped high in the back of the end zone to coral the ball; then later completed a 55-yard drive with a 1-yard run.

"Grigsby did a great job," said CSM coach Tim Tulloch. "He protected the ball well and threw for four TDs."

CSM IN CONTROL: The Bulldogs controlled the game from the outset, marching 94-yards in 15 plays with their first possession, which took most to the first quarter. Grigsby engineered succeeding drives of 67, 63 (field goa), 31, 49 (FG), aaaaa60, and 55 yards -- as CSM rolled for 480 offensive yards. The only "short" (3-play) drive came after a 39-yard punt return by Anthony Freeman set-up the Bulldogs on the MJC 31. That punt by the Pirates from their 30, after a 3-and-out possession following a CSM kickoff, netted them one yard.

Freeman leads all Northern California players with a 20.8 average per return. He is also No. 4 in the state on kickoff returns at 28.3. He also caught five passes for 51 yards against the Pirates, so totaled 119 all-purpose yards – maintaining a season AP average of 110.6.

DB Malini Ti'a led the CSM defense with eight tackles (7 solo) and blocked a Modesto conversion kick.

There were no turnovers in the game.

PASSING MARKS: Grigsby is now just three yards short of 3,000 yards passing this season, at 2,997 -- with 30 TDs. He has a total offense of 3,049 yards and 35 touchdowns responsible for (nine in the last two games). He has passed for 659 yards in the last two contests (including in the Bay 6 title decider with CCSF).

Grigsby's 30 TD passes puts him in a tie for second on the all-time San Mateo list with Dave Giannini (in 1984). Sal Genilla holds the Bulldogs record with 38.

CSM EXTENDS 98-YEAR MODESTO SERIES LEAD: In defeating Modesto for the second time this year, San Mateo extended its lead in a series that began in 1925 to 32-21 (with 3 ties).