FIRST WIN AT CCSF SINCE 1988 LEAVES DEFENDING BAY 6 CHAMP CSM IN CONTROL

COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO SPORTS NEWS               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Contact: Fred Baer  baerf@smccd.edu

FIRST WIN AT CCSF SINCE 1988 LEAVES DEFENDING BAY 6 CHAMP CSM IN CONTROL

After nearly three decades, College of San Mateo has finally won a football game at City College of San Francisco. The convincing 42-31 CSM triumph on Saturday left the state No. 4-ranked Bulldogs (7-1 overall, 3-0 Bay 6) alone in first place atop the league standings with two regular season games remaining – including Saturday's (Nov. 4) upcoming home finale with third place Santa Rosa JC.

It was a complete win in The City – on offense and defense – for the defending Bay 6 champions.

After No. 7 CCSF (5-3, 2-1) spent seven minutes marching the second half kickoff downfield -- only to be held to a 32-yard field goal for a 23-14 lead -- the Bulldogs took complete charge. CSM scored four straight touchdowns to go up 42-23 with 4:05 left in the game. Quarterback Miles Kendrick and wide receiver Rajae Johnson completed third quarter drives with a pair of scores on passes of 16 and 30 yards. San Mateo led for good at 28-23 with 28 seconds left in that period.

Although CSM has defeated the Rams at College Heights Stadium several times -- including 24-21 en route to a perfect 5-0 Bay 6 season in 2016 -- the last victory in San Francisco was 6-3 in 1988.

DEFENSE FORCES THREE 4TH QUARTER TURNOVERS: The CSM defense took firm control in the fourth quarter, forcing three turnovers while continuing the Rams second half TD drought until the final minutes.

CSM linebacker Steven Doughty forced a fumble by CCSF quarterback Zach Masoli, which Dorzel Hicks scooped up and ran 30 yards into the end zone. San Mateo led, 35-23, with seven minutes remaining.

CCSF's next possession went just as poorly. Jamarri Jackson picked off Masoli on the San Mateo 42. Five plays later Cameron Taylor ran 27 yards to paydirt for a 19-point margin, 42-23, with 4:05 left. To that point, the San Mateo defense had held the Rams to just one first down on four possessions (just 12 plays) in the period. After San Francisco got its only second half TD with 2:45 left in the game, CSM defensive back Deon White sealed it with an interception with ten seconds remaining.  

SWEET WIN FOR LARRY OWENS IN LAST TRIP TO CCSF: It was an extremely satisfying effort for Larry Owens in his last try as CSM head coach after a 21-year tenure in that position. The Bulldogs last won at CCSF, 6-3, in 1988 when Owens was as assistant coach.

 "We made plays when we had to," said Owens. "Taylor was huge."

The CSM freshman tailback out of Hillsdale High returned to action this week after an injury and rushed for 119 yards and two scores, to bring his season TD total to ten. Kendrick directed the offense, throwing for 199 yards and three touchdowns. He completed ten of 20 passes and ran for 34 yards on ten carries and did not incur a sack. The freshman thrower has accounted for 15 TDs.

Johnson caught three passes for 84 yards and now has a league leading eight TD catches. Jared Latu had five receptions for 72 yards.  

Hicks had 13 tackles (nine solo). Doughty added ten tackles (six solo). David Música had two sacks and three tackles for loss. Mike Mounga had a pair of sacks, 2 1/2 tackles for loss, and two quarterback hurries. In addition to the four sacks, the CSM defense had nine tackles for loss, and three hurries -- along with the four turnovers -- to thwart the Rams.

HOME FINALE SAT.: San Mateo can clinch the outright champion Saturday at 1 p.m. against third place Santa Rosa JC (1-6, 1-1) in the final regular season home game (and sophomore day). If the Bulldogs don't falter in the stretch, they are in line to host a first round state playoff game on Nov. 18. Santa Rosa, a half-game behind second place CCSF in the standings, rebounded from a wildfire impacted season to upset Diablo Valley, 24-20, on Friday. Santa Rosa still has a make-up game pending with Contra Costa.

Notes: CSM had taken an early 7-6 lead in the first quarter on a 38-yard Kendrick pass to Edmond Polataivao. Although San Francisco had scored first, Defensive lineman Nathan Talakai, a Sequoia High grad, blocked the Rams PAT kick attempt. Justin Watts retained his season-long state punting lead with a 44.4 average. San Mateo made the most of limited possession time, 23:16 – compared to 36:44 for the Rams, who did outgain CSM, 515 total yards to 369.

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