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CSM claims first-ever CCCAA Football Championship with 55-0 win over Riverside City
December 10, 2022

CSM claims first-ever CCCAA Football Championship with 55-0 win over Riverside City

Story/photos courtesy CCCAA

SAN MATEO - College of San Mateo turned in the most one-sided victory in California Community College Athletic Association football championship game history, 55-0, over formerly unbeaten and top-ranked Riverside City College (12-1) to claim the Bulldogs first official state gridiron title Saturday afternoon at College Heights Stadium.

 
CSM (12-1) scored the only points it needed less than two minutes into the game on a 33-yard run by All-America running back and game MVP Ezra Moleni. That was with 13:14 remaining in the first quarter. It was set-up by a 61-yard return of the opening kickoff by Jeremiah  Patterson to the Riverside 35. Moleni took three handoffs to reach the end zone with his 17th rushing TD of the season. 
 
"You can't say enough about him, how hard he runs," said CSM coach Tim Tulloch.
 
After holding Riverside to a quick 3-and-out, it was the same story on San Mateo's second series -- another 3-carry  Moleni series, capped by his 61-yard scoring run that also broke Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman's season rushing record for the Bulldogs. Moleni now has 1,400 rushing yards this season and 18 touchdowns (to lead the state's National Division in that category), smashing the 1,253 yards by Edelman in 2005. 
 
Later in the first period, J'Wan Evans, an all-state running back for the Bulldogs in 2021, made it 21-0 with his own 2-play series of 18 and 42 yards.
 
The first quarter stats illustrated the game: CSM 233 yards of offense (all rushing) to 55 for the Tigers.
 
On a wet day, San Mateo's state-leading defense (allowing only 12.8 points per game coming in) topped Riverside's National Division-leading offense (590.9 yards per game). CSM totaled 446 yards while limiting the Tigers to 224. 
 
RECORD MARGIN: San Mateo set a state playoff series record, not allowing a touchdown throughout -- while outscoring three foes 115-5. The previous widest game margin of victory and only other shutout came in 1967, the initial CCCAA (single game) state championship: Fullerton 41, American River 0.
 
CSM linebacker Taniela Latu was the defensive player of the game with three tackles for loss, including a sack, plus a forced fumble. San Mateo forced the Tigers to punt 11 times.
 
San Mateo was in full control at halftime, 35-0. All Bay 6 quarterback Richie Watts connected with tight end Brendan Doyle, the offensive player of the game, on a 33-yard scoring pass, and Evans ran 67 yards to make it 35-0 at the break.
 
At halftime, Moleni had 164 rushing yards while Evans had 149 – totaling 311 on the ground. Moleni finished with a CSM single-game record 232 yards while Evans finished with 148 for 380 net yards for the all-state duo. The previous Bulldogs game rushing record was 228 yards by George Naufahu in 2013 against De Anza. 
 
Two-time all-state placekicker Gabe Plascencia added fourth-quarter field goals of 31 and 24 yards and had 13 points in the game, giving him a season total of 96 points. That continues to lead Northern California and added to his Bulldogs career kicking record, totaling 195 points.
 
Doyle also had the final touchdown, a 22-yard pass from back-up QB Jerry Johnson.
 
WEATHER A FACTOR: Otherwise, neither team accomplished much through the air on the rainy and windy day. Riverside's All-America quarterback Jake Retzlaff had trouble connecting with his cadre of elite receivers, finishing just 7 of 26 for 52 yards. He was sacked four times and intercepted by a trio of Bulldogs: Shamoun Duncan-Niusulu, Tyrice Ivy Jr., and Kavika Baumgartner. Baumgartner returned his theft 16 yards for the only third-quarter score and had a fumble recovery as well.
 
Tulloch had high praise for the 6-3, 275-pound Baumgartner, an All-America selection on the defensive line by coaches this season. "His leadership in the locker room and on the field has been invaluable," said Tulloch. "And he could have left with a scholarship last year."
 
Retzlaff was also Riverside's top rusher, with 48 yards on 12 carries – for a total offense of 100 yards. Donovan Harvey paced Tigers running backs with 39 yards on eight carries. 
 
For CSM, Watts was 4-of-13 for 44 yards -- with no interceptions or sacks. The Bulldogs did not commit any turnovers. 
 
Arturo Orozco led the Riverside defense with eight tackles while Alonzo Gray-Hall had seven. Each of them had five solo stops. Alex Navarro-Silva had a pair of tackles for loss for the Tigers and finished with five total tackles. 
 
RANKINGS: San Mateo and Riverside will be ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the JC Athletic Bureau's final coaches poll, (by agreement with the California Community College Football Coaches Association) -- which will release a season-ending Top 25. 
 
(Fred Baer, CCCSIA)
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