Last 2 foes outscored 107-7: CSM set for 7th straight state playoff berth; B6 title showdown at CCSF Sat.

STOCKTON -- Richie Watts threw a near record six touchdown passes, playing just two series into the second half, as College of San Mateo wrapped up an apparent seventh straight state playoff appearance with a 44-0 blanking of host San Joaquin Delta College Saturday afternoon at McNair High School Stadium.

PLAYOFF BOUND & B6 TITLE STILL IN OFFING: The Bulldogs enter a Bay 6 title deciding finale at reigning state champion City College of San Francisco Saturday at 1 pm. San Mateo should at least be the wildcard entry in the state region 4-team playoffs. CSM (8-1) has the best record and best RPI (rating) of all Northern California Football Association National (state championship) Division teams and is in a 3-way league deadlock at 3-1 with CCSF (6-3 overall) and 7-2  Laney (which the Bulldogs have defeated).

 CSM has also defeated two of the other three potential playoff teams, American River and Modesto  (which faces Fresno CC in the Valley title game Saturday). Laney (which beat CCSF) is the other team in line for the playoffs and will share the Bay 6 title if it wins Saturday's finale at Chabot

 --San Mateo has won 27 of its last 29 league games, taking five straight crowns from 2015 to 2019, only to have CCSF end that streak in the 2021 Bay 6 finale (after no competition in 2020).

 Watts threw scoring passes to Raymello Murphy of 50 and 47 yards to give the Bulldogs a quick 14-0 lead just over five minutes into the game. The onslaught continued with a 32-yard strike to Jayden Dixon-Veal, a pair of TDs to Jeremiah Patterson (24 and 26 yards) and a 4-yard score to Colin Giffen.

 The freshman thrower out of Rocklin High School completed 16 of 18 passes for 269 yards with no interceptions, raising his season completion percentage to 67.8 and collegiate efficiency rating to 178.2 – both No. 2 in the state's National Division. But he did not have the opportunity to tie CSM's game record of seven TD passes, set by Dru Brown in 2015. Jerry Johnson finished the game at the helm, mostly handing off the ball.

 CSM rushing pacesetter Ezra Moleni played only sparingly, carrying just four times for 27 yards. He still leads the state's National Division with 12 touchdowns and the North with 88.0 rushing yards per game -- heading into the league finale. Serra High grad Nate Sanchez rushed for 34 yards on 11 carries and Hillsdale High product Atelea Tengei had 35 yards on seven carries, pacing the five Bulldogs rushers in the game.

 CSM totaled 125 yards rushing and 368 total offense yards.

DEFENSE STYMIES DELTA: The San Mateo defense held the Mustangs under 100 total yards, 43 rushing and 53 passing. Delta did not make a first down until its last series of the first half and had only one first down rushing in the entire game.

 The fourth quarter started with a safety when a Delta bad snap its own 14 yard line sent the ball towards the end zone, where CSM linebacker Dylan Neeley chased down Delta QB Simeon Sims for the two points. Contributing sacks in the game were William Paden, Quincy Likio  Ian Langi, Pau Reed, and Noa Ngalu.

 The Bulldogs have outscored their last three foes, 105-0, in the first half. The last two wins were by a total of 107-7.

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Fred Baer, CSM Sports Information