CSM SMACKS ARC, 41-7, IN PLAYOFF OPENER

SAN MATEO – After a slow start, College of San Mateo's offense exploded in the third quarter Saturday to roll past American River College, 41-7, and into the Northern California Football Conference championship game on Dec. 7 with visiting No. 2 seed Modesto JC. 

It's also an opportunity for the Bulldogs avenge their only season loss and 3-peat as NCFC champions. Saturday's winner earns the right to host the 3C2A state title game on Dec. 14.

The top-seeded Bulldogs (10-1) pulled out a 10-0 halftime lead against a tough ARC (7-4) defense; then roared out of the locker room after the intermission for 21 additional points, scoring quickly on the first three possessions, using just seven plays, to extend their home field winning streak to 21 games – which includes the 3C2A state championship in 2022. 

Those three scoring tallies were a 66-yard run by Bay 6 offensive player of the year Lolo Mataele and two long pass plays from all-Bay 6 quarterback Dominic Ingrassia -- 59 yards to Jaelin Green and 71 yards to KB Boone-Nelson. 

"That third quarter was big," said CSM head coach Tim Tulloch. "We exploded. That set the tone."

Mataele had also tallied  San Mateo's initial touchdown, putting an end to the defensive first half by completing a 76-yard drive with a 2-yard run just three minutes before the intermission. 

And the Bulldogs were not yet looking for a break. After the Beavers crossed midfield for the first time, just barely to the 44, R.J. Whitten intercepted an enemy pass to put CSM back on offense on its own 30 with 1:15 left. 

Ingrassia maneuvered San Mateo down the field, including three key passes to Green, to reach the ARC 11 with 12 seconds remaining. State kick-scoring leader Dieter Kelly than booted a 28-yard field goal for what proved to be the eventual winning margin – at breaktime.

"Getting that second score ahead of the half was important," said Tulloch. "We made a statement." 

Mataele totaled  95 yards on just 133 carries, maintaining his 94.4 per game season average -- while usually needing to play only half the game.

Mataele and Kelly increased the state's top 1-2 scoring punch by splitting 23 points in the game. Mataele leads the state with 17 rushing touchdowns and paces the National (state championship) Division with 102 points. Kelly had a pair of field goals and 11 points to increase his state (and national JC/CC) pacesetting kick scoring total to 94 points (7 shy of the CSM season record). He is No. 6 in overall state scoring. Kelly's 17 season field goals is a CSM record. 

Mataele's 17 TDs is two short of the CSM record, currently tied for third on the list with Mario Ballestrasee (1985), future Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman (2005), and Cameron Taylor (2005).

Ingrassia completed 10 of 18 passes for 221 yards and no picks to complete an 8-game winning streak since taking the Bulldogs helm. He came off the grayshirt list after CSM had no remaining healthy quarterbacks after suffering its only season loss, 23-20, at Modesto on Sept. 21. The streak had started with a 17-14 victory over American River the following week. 

The Bulldogs, therefore, expect to be out for revenge in Saturday's upcoming noon rematch with Modesto (9-2). The Valley League champions needed 2 overtimes on Saturday to finally turn back league foe Fresno CC on a field goal, 31-28, with the only OT points scored by either team.

It did take awhile for the Bulldogs offense to get into gear on Saturday, failing to even make a first down in the initial period. CSM, on its first possession of the second quarter, appeared to get a first down – and much more – on a 75-yard Ingrassia to Green TD pass that was called back because of an illegal lineman downfield penalty.

American River, meanwhile, was held in its own territory or at midfield throughout the game, except for one fourth quarter lapse. Elias Brown slipped through the rotating Bulldogs defensive ranks and broke into the open for a 60-yard touchdown run. That allowed the Beavers star running back to take game rushing honors with 106 yards on 14 carries and maintain his Northern California National rushing leadership with a 114 yards per game average -- with Mateale in the runner-up position.

CSM, however, still lowered the stingiest defense in JC/CC football (nationally) to 11.5 points per game. 

ARC had only 104 net yards rushing, however, and 92 passing. Leading the Bulldogs defense were linebacker Malaki Teo, with six tackles, including a sack, and DB Trevon Watson, with five solo tackles 

CSM had 427 total yards, 206 on the ground. Ali Collier had 55 yards rushing and John Stowers added 41, including a 31-yard TD in the fourth quarter.