The article below originally appeared on MercuryNews.com and is being reprinted with permission.

The College of San Mateo defense joined the party late in the Bulldog Bowl as Nate Jackson returned his second interception 59 yards for a toudchdown in the fourth quarter and linebacker Tevita Lataimua took another one back 48 seconds later to cap the scoring in a 62-24 rout of visiting Diablo Valley at College Heights Stadium on Saturday.

“It was a fun moment,” CSM coach Bret Pollack said. “It’s always exciting to see guys score on defense.”

The most valuable player, though, was quarterback Jonathan Willis, who tossed three first-half touchdowns to Antoine Turner (65, 7, 9). Willis went 9 of 17 for 159 passing yards, his fourth TD pass a 15-yard connection with tight end Chris Chang (St. Francis-Mountain View) in the third quarter. Willis added 111 rushing yards on 13 carries.

“He was the MVP of the game, and rightfutlly so,” Pollack said. “Anytime you have four touchdown passes and 100 yards rushing, you’re doing pretty good.”

CSM (8-3), the state leader in rushing at 314 yards per game, gained 422 yards on the ground and was paced by Menlo-Atherton product Vaughn Smith (12 carries, 144 yards), who broke a 68-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

“We talked to the guys about being their last home game, their last game playing together and the fact we were undefeated in the Bulldog Bowl,” Pollack said.