College of San Mateo holds off Golden West for second straight 3C2A Football Championship

COSTA MESA – College of San Mateo was able to survive a 20-point 4th quarter comeback by previously unbeaten Golden West College to repeat as 3C2A state football champions by a narrow 28-27 score on Saturday afternoon at LeBard Stadium on the Orange Coast College campus. Both teams finished with 12-1 records.

It was the third state title in four years for CSM and coach Tim Tulloch, who won a championship on the road for the first time.

"They aren't always pretty but they count," said Tulloch. "We knew it was going to be a 4-quarter game. They got momentum. And momentum in this game is a tough thing to deal with."

CSM, with its state-leading defense in control for three-quarters, took a 28-7 lead into the final period -- before the host Rustlers went on a rampage, led by quarterback Kauna'oa Kamakawiwo'ole. He connected with JD Aliea on a 4-yard pass with 33 seconds left to play to make it 28-27. But his 2-pt. conversion attempt to Ayden Goodwin fell short, under pressure from Bulldogs defensive back RJ Whitten. After the kickoff, CSM needed only a final kneel down to end it.

Golden West's rally started with an 80-yard drive, resulting in Aaron Mitchell's 17-yard run to cut the deficit it half at 28-14 less than a minute into the final quarter. After holding the Bulldogs to a 3-and-out -- and despite their 65-yard punt by Ethan Ling -- Golden West was then able to go 93 yards to close to within one score after Mitchell's 4-yard rushing score.

San Mateo had taken control early, grabbing the lead for good at 14-7 with 7:31 left in the second period on an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Luke Alexander to Kavon Collins.

A 28-yard pick-six interception return for a TD by Whitten put the Bulldogs up, 21-7, before halftime. A third-quarter interception in the end zone by game defensive MVP Jeremiah Lewis set up the Bulldogs for their final score. An 80-yard drive was completed by Malakhi DeMoss on a 22-yard run.

The final theft, by Whitten, with 5:13 left, put the Bulldogs in position to clinch it, with the ball at the GW 31. But the Rustlers' defense held firm and CSM's state-leading field goal kicker Dieter Kelly just missed to the right on a 49-yard attempt. Golden West took over -- but only got to its own 47 (on a pass interference penalty).

After a pair of pass break-ups by Whitten, CSM went on offense at the 2-minute time-out, but also could not move the ball. That forced a punt. It took only three passes by Kamakawiwo'ole, starting on his own 25, to get into the end zone in 25 seconds for the potential tying/winning points.

The opponents traded scores early. San Mateo drove 54 yards in the first quarter, with game MVP Dominick Gonzalez running the final 20 yards for the first TD, with 3:07 left. Golden West came back with a 70-yard drive, aided by a pair of major penalties, to score on Aaron Mitchell's 2-yard rush.

Four pass interceptions by CSM and its state-leading pass defense made a difference.

Golden West picked off the Bulldogs twice to stay in it – and finished with 320 passing yards and 445 total offense yards. CSM had the rushing advantage, 155 to 125.

Golden West wide receiver Dom Thompson had ten receptions for 132 yards and received the game's outstanding offensive player award.

CSM freshman quarterback Alexander was effective when needed, completing 8-of-11 passes for 84 yards. Gonzalez had 74 yards on 11 carries (6.7 average) and DeMoss led all rushers with 92 yards on 24 trips – as the Bulldogs hogged the ground.

Ardwon Morris paced Golden West with 55 yards on 12 carries.

Lewis a freshman linebacker, had eight tackles (6 solo), including a tackle for loss, a pass break-up, and the interception for the Bulldogs.

Golden West had completed its first perfect 10-0 regular season to rank No. 1 in the JC Athletic Bureau's final regular season poll for the California Community College Football Coaches Association, ahead of No. 2 CSM.  San Mateo won a fourth consecutive Northern California Football Conference championship to return to the state finals.

{Fred Baer, CCCSIA)