CSM holds of ARC 17-14

SAN MATEO -- It took a school record equaling 51-yard field goal by Dieter Kelly in the fourth quarter for College of San Mateo to hold off NorCal rival American River College, 17-14, in a non-conference football game Saturday afternoon at College Heights Stadium. It was a contest filled with outstanding special teams and defensive play by the Bulldogs.

The game started with a record 100-yard kickoff return by Hassan Mihasin (the longest possible statistical return, since end zone yardage does not count in college football).

CSM started an untested quarterback without previous collegiate snaps for the third time in four games and survived with a 3-1 season record and top-ten state ranking. It was the third time in two seasons that the Bulldogs have beaten reigning NorCal League champion ARC – topping the Beavers in 2023 non-league play and in the Northern California title game.

With the two starting signal callers from CSM's three previous games sidelined with injuries, greyshirt freshman Dominic Ingrassia out of San Marin High School was quickly elevated to a full-time starting role. The 6-3, 210-pound athlete was fortunate to have a 7-point start (thanks to Mihasin) before taking the field on Saturday. 

He completed 6-of-13 passes for 94 yards and drove the Bulldogs for their only offensive TD, 45 yards in seven plays, just before halftime. An 18-yard Ingrassia to Simon Mapa pass play set-up CSM on the Beavers 12, after which Mihasin rushed for four yards and Lolo Mataele finished in with 7 and 1-yard carries for a 14-0 San Mateo halftime advantage.

American River started the third quarter, completing its only long drive of the game, and scoring back-to-back after recovering a Bulldogs fumble on the 20 on the ensuing kickoff.

Otherwise, the CSM defensive held-up against two lost fumbles and two interceptions.

"We put it on the defense to win it," said CSM coach Tim Tulloch." 

And the Bulldogs continued to display the state's "top" kicking game. 

CSM started the fourth quarter with a 55-yard drive engineered by Ingrassia that reached the ARC 33-yard line, setting-up Kelly's winning kick with 10:50 left in the game. He added that 51-yard field goal to an earlier 50-yard kick this season to now have two of San Mateo's three longest field goals. He tied the 51-yard record kick by Gabe Placensia, set in 2019. He leads Northern California with seven field goals this season. 

Tashi Dorje had a 66-yard punt, landing a pair of kicks inside the 20, and increasing his state season-leading punting average to 42.3 yards:      

Odera Okaka led the Bulldogs with 10 total tackles.  Malaki Teo and Sherod Smith each had four solo tackles. Trevon Watson had a pass interception and five tackles. Tulloch was especially pleased with the overall play of Teo. 

Mataele was the game's top rusher, with 70 yards on 19 carries. He has been averaging nearly 100 yards a game (96.5) for the season.