The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.
While many college football teams were busy fighting over flags this past week, the College of San Mateo squad was busy planting its own flag as the best team in Northern California — and at this point, it’s not really close.
The Bulldogs, who have appeared in the last two state championship games — winning the state championship and mythical national title in 2022 — are poised to make it three straight after the top-seeded Bulldogs thoroughly dismantled No. 4 American River College 41-7 Saturday afternoon in San Mateo.
It’s the second time this year that CSM got past ARC, but did so much more emphatically Saturday. In the first meeting, a 17-14 CSM win Sept. 28, the Bulldogs managed just 274 yards of offense.
Saturday, CSM rolled up more than 400 yards — 221 yards passing and 206 yards rushing. And the Bulldogs did it in spectacular fashion, using big plays to stun the Beavers. Running back Lolo Mataele, who finished with 95 yards on 13 carries, bolted 66 yards to put the Bulldogs up 7-0 in the second quarter, followed by a 76-yard jaunt early in the third quarter to put CSM up 17-0.
Then it was time for freshman quarterback Dom Ingrassia and his receiving corps to get in on the big-play action. Ingrassia hit Jaelin Green on a 59-yard score to go up 24-0 and followed that by a 69-scoring strike to KB Boone-Nelson for a 31-0 lead.
Green and Boone-Nelson combined for eight catches for 205 yards.
John Stowers then rumbled 31 yards for the Bulldogs’ final score.
Meanwhile, the CSM defense continues to be the team’s best unit, as it has been all season long. The Bulldogs defense hasn’t allowed more than 26 points since a season-opening 27-26 win over Sierra Sept. 7.
Saturday, CSM kept ARC off the scoreboard for the first three quarters, holding the Beavers to just 196 yards of offense. In their last four games, the Bulldogs have given up a combined 28 points — 7 points a game.
Next up is the Nor Cal title game against second-seeded Modesto. Not only do the Bulldogs get a chance at returning to the state championship, they get a chance at avenging their only loss of the season. The Pirates beat CSM 23-20 in the Central Valley Sept. 21.
Kickoff is at noon Saturday at College Heights Stadium in San Mateo.