CSM IN “CONTROL” IN BAY 6 TITLE DEFENSE AFTER ROLLING OVER FOOTHILL, 49-14; AT CCSF NEXT

SAN MATEO -- College of San Mateo is in the driver's seat in the Bay 6 League and California Community College Athletic Association football races after a convincing 49-14 win over visiting Peninsula rival Foothill College Saturday afternoon at College Heights Stadium.

The state No. 5 ranked Bulldogs have now defeated both 20th ranked Diablo Valley (4-3) and No. 16 Foothill (4-2) to begin defense of their Bay 6 League (and Northern Calif.) titles with a 2-0 league and 6-1 overall record. They next visit their "closest" foe in City College of San Francisco  (2-5, 2-0 B6) for another "traditional" contest -- on Saturday at 1 p.m. CCSF, after dropping all five non-league games, with a new coaching staff, has won its first two league contests – so could capture the title by winning out against the league's 3 state-ranked foes.

San Mateo put on its best overall performance against Foothill, running up its highest point total of the season by halftime -- with a 28-7 lead.

Bay 6 rushing leader Lolo Mataele had his best day, gaining 151 yards on 14 carries and scoring two touchdowns (69 yards and 20 yards) – to co-lead the state overall with nine TDs. He has rushed for 631 yards in seven games, a 90.1 yard average. Mataele also has the league's highest all-purpose running total -- with 675 yards, including his 44 pass receiving yards. 

Dom Ingrassia made the biggest leap on his learning curve -- since being elevated from the gray shirt ranks for CSM's fourth game. The 6-3 freshman, out of San Marin High School, completed 11 of 15 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns, without being intercepted -- and remains "unbeaten" in his four starts. He now has the best collegiate passer efficiency rating, 138.1, among Bay 6 League starters.

"Dom throws the ball really well," said CSM head coach Tim Tulloch. 'He throws it deep, he throws it short, he throws it down the middle." 

Ingrassia started the onslaught with an 18-yard scoring pass to Hassan Mahasian on the first Bulldogs possession to complete an 81-yard drive. San Mateo's next scoring drive covered 87 yards in simpler fashion, just three plays. Ingrassia connected with KB Boone-Nelson on a 60-yard pass and run play to go ahead for good at 14-7. Boone-Nelson caught four passes for 102 yards and a pair of TDs in the game. 

Sherrod Smith intercepted a pair of Owls passes. He now has three thefts for the season. 

San Mateo totaled 483 yards, 248 on the ground. The CSM defense, meanwhile, held the Owls to just 27 net rushing yards and 137 total yards for the game. 

DL Odera Okaka had six tackles (five solo), including three tackles for loss.

John Gayer had three tackles and a pass break-up. The "edge" lineman continues to lead the state with 8 1/2 sacks for the season.

DB Kalen Woods had four tackles and intercepted his second pass of the season..  

Conner Annicharico returned from the injured list for mop-up QB duty in the fourth quarter, completing 5-of-8 passes for 35 yards, including TD tosses to Mahasin (6 yards) and Jaelin Green (7 yards).

CSM, MODESTO, ARC, BUTTE LEAD EARLY NORTH PLAYOFF DERBY: CSM controls its own destiny. Based on records to date, if the Bulldogs win out, they are in line to join Modesto JC (5-2), American River (4-3), and Butte (6-1) in the 4-team Northern Calif. playoffs. American River took an early advantage in the NorCal League Saturday with a 31-30 overtime comeback victory at previously unbeaten and state No. 2 ranked Butte College. That leaves no "perfect" teams in the North title chase – but still some obstacles. 

"Our own destiny will be determined by how we finish conference," said Tulloch. "We have a lot of football left." And that continues Saturday at CCSF.

BASKET OF B6 LEADERS: CSM will bring a basket of Bay 6 league leaders tto San Francisco, starting with rushing, TD, and scoring pacesetter Mataele, pass efficiency leader Ingrassia, top placekicker Dieter Kelly, state punting leader Tashi Dorje (42.9 avg.), and state sacks leader Gayer.

Kelly didn't need any field goal tries against Foothill but added seven PATs to bring his kick scoring total to 45 points. That leads Northern California (as does his 11 field goals). 

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