Second-half surge leads to season-opening win over Sierra

SAN MATEO – Heading into the locker room at halftime, College of San Mateo found itself trailing visiting Sierra College by a narrow 13-10 margin. But the Bulldogs' offense came alive in the second half to more resemble last year's team that averaged 37.8 points per game.

Sparked a pair of touchdown runs by sophomore Ezra Moleni, CSM outscored Sierra 35-15 over the final two quarters to cruise to a 45-28 victory over the Wolverines in both teams' season-opener at College Heights Stadium on Saturday.

Sierra got off to a fast start by going 80 yards on its opening drive to score the first touchdown of the game after a one-yard TD pass from Michael Wortham to Eli Mirza.

But momentum quickly shifted back to the Bulldogs. On the ensuing kickoff, J'Wan Evans brought the home crowd to its feet after receiving the ball at his own five-yard line before taking it all the way back for an electrifying 95-yard touchdown return.

With the score tied up at 7-7, Sierra grinded out another long drive, this time going 75 yards over 10 plays. Wortham ran in to score from 13 yards out, but the PAT kick was blocked by Alo Mata'U to keep the deficit at six points, 13-7 with 1:17 to go in the first.

CSM would add a 45-yard field goal from Gabe Plascencia with 20 seconds remaining in the half to get within three points going into halftime.

After a slow opening two quarters, the Bulldogs turned to the running game to wear down the Wolverines in the second half. With 9:25 to play in the third, Moleni ran in from five yards out to put CSM ahead for good at 17-13. Richie Watts' one-yard TD run at the 4:54 mark in the third made it 17 unanswered points and extended the Bulldogs' lead to 24-13.

Sierra finally broke the string with a nine-yard TD pass from Wortham to Mirza to get within three points at 24-21 just before the end of the third.

But San Mateo put up 21 points in the fourth quarter to close out the win, getting touchdown runs from Moleni (5 yards) and Anthony Grigsby (10 yards) as well as a 14-yard TD pass from Grigsby to Jamai East.

Sierra won the stat sheet by collecting 29 first downs to CSM's 17 and outgained the Bulldogs in total yards by a 437-352 margin. The Wolverines also dominated time of possession, 37:17 compared to 22:10 by San Mateo. But special teams and turnovers proved to be the difference. The kickoff return and blocked kick were huge while CSM forced four fumbles and recovered three.

The Bulldogs outgained Sierra on the ground, totaling 228 yards compared to 179 by the Wolverines. Evans had a big game, running for 123 yards on 16 carries while Moleni had 88 yards on nine rushes with a pair of TDs.

Grigsby (7-9, 77 yards, 1 TD) and Watts (5-8, 47 yards) split time at quarterback and combined to pass for 124 yards. East led receivers with five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Justin Sinclair and Malini Ti'A both totaled eight tackles for the Bulldogs while Malik Johnson had a sack and four tackles.

CSM (1-0) will look to make it two straight wins when the Bulldogs travel to College of the Sequoias in Visalia next Saturday for an 11 a.m. game.