No. 4 Bulldogs hold off No. 14 Diablo Valley in Bay 6 opener

PLEASANT HILL – No. 4 state-ranked College of San Mateo opened its Bay 6 League schedule with a 27-14 win at No. 14 Diablo Valley College on Friday night.

The Bulldogs have won three straight and improved to 5-1 overall with the victory.

The CSM defense held Diablo Valley to just a pair of touchdowns and was relentless in its pressure of DVC quarterback Teddy Booras. Booras, who entered the contest leading Bay 6 QBs in passing yards, TD passes, and quarterback efficiency, was sacked five times, intercepted once, and had four of his passes broken up. He completed just 16 of 35 passes for 175 yards.

San Mateo relied on the run to control the game and was able to punch the ball in three times for short touchdowns.

James Minot busted through from a yard out to get the Bulldogs on the board at the 1:51 mark in the first quarter.

DVC responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 7-yard TD pass from Booras to Miles Dixon to tie up the game with 10:23 to go in the second.

CSM closed out the quarter with a 24-yard field goal from Dieter Kelly (5:10) and a 2-yard TD run from Lolo Mataele (0:35) to send the Bulldogs into the break with a 17-7 lead.

The Vikings put together another long scoring drive late in the third quarter to cut the CSM lead to three points. A 20-yard touchdown pass from Booras to Steven Henry II closed a 9-play, 72-yard drive, and the Bulldogs were clinging to a 17-14 advantage.

But the Bulldogs' defense shut the door on the Vikings, holding them scoreless in the fourth.

Special teams did its part, recovering a DVC fumble after a big 58-yard punt from Tashi Dorje sent the ball all the way to the Vikings' 5-yard line. One play later, Malakhi DeMoss ran in for the 5-yard TD to extend the CSM lead back to 10 points at 24-14 with 7:35 remaining in the game.

Another turnover led to the Bulldogs' final points. Sherrod Smith came through with the big interception of Booras and ran it back 26 yards to the Diablo Valley 36-yard line. That led to another Kelly field goal, this time from 24 yards with 3:14 to play that sealed the San Mateo victory.

CSM ran for 147 yards, led by 107 yards on 18 carries from DeMoss while Mataele rushed 13 times for 63 yards. Quarterback Dominic Ingrassia was 12 for 22, passing for 120 yards in a solid outing.

John Gayer had a huge game on defense, posting 3 sacks and 4 tackles. Kalen Woods led with 6 tackles while Malaki Teo totaled 5 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and fumble recovery. Nehamaiah Muskia chipped in with a sack and 4 tackles.

San Mateo will look to keep the momentum going next Saturday (Oct. 26) when the Bulldogs host Foothill College in a 1 p.m. Bay 6 League game at College Heights Stadium.