The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.
CSM running back Ezra Moleni is Northern California’s top National Division runner,averaging 91.6 yards per game. National Division teams are eligible to play for a state title. Photo by Patrick Nguyen.
Northern California’s top community college football team, College of San Mateo (5-0), has its sights on new winning streaks as Bay 6 Conference play gets underway Saturday with No. 8 Laney-Oakland (4-1) visiting the No. 2 Bulldogs at 1 p.m.
CSM had two 24-game regular season and conference winning streaks heading into the 2021 league finale, which ended with a 31-27 last minute setback to eventual state and national champion City College of San Francisco. After four league titles, that prevented the Bulldogs from a 5-peat in the Bay 6.
San Mateo is 24-1 in the Bay 6 since a Nov. 14, 2015, setback against CCSF. The Bulldogs had not lost to another Northern California team since 2018, when Laney defeated the Bulldogs in the playoffs – also enroute to winning state and national titles. CSM had won their regular season league meeting.
No. 1-ranked Riverside, No. 2 CSM, and No. 3 Mt. San Antonio — all 5-0 — are the state’s lone remaining unbeaten National (state championship) Division teams entering league play.
CSM QB WATTS, RB MOLENI LEAD ALL
San Mateo freshman quarterback Richie Watts leads the state’s National Division quarterbacks with the best passing completing percentage, 72.5 (66 of 91). He has thrown for six touchdowns with no interceptions for a spectacular 183.6 collegiate efficiency rating.
CSM sophomore running back Ezra Moleni is Northern California’s top National Division rusher, averaging 91.6 yards per game, and scoring a pacesetting seven TDs. He received state player of the week recognition after rushing for 171 yards on 19 carries (9.0 average) and three touchdowns in the Bulldogs final non-league win, 28-21, over then-No. 6 Butte, which is No. 10 this week and a favorite in the NorCal Conference.
Pacing the Bay 6 in all-purpose running are Moleni, with 112 yards per game, and J’Wan Evans (106.6). The CSM duo are the only players averaging more than 90 yards.
Gabe Plascencia leads regional placekickers with 33 points, perfect on conversions (24 of 24), plus three field goals (long of 45 yards).
CSM linebacker Fynn Williams, a freshman out of Serra High, was selected Northern California Football Conference defensive player of the week for his performance against Butte: 11 tackles (9 solo), two key drive-ending sacks, another tackle for loss, and a QB hurry.
CAÑADA WOMEN SPLIT PAIR, SKYLINE IS SET TO OPEN CONFERENCE PLAY
The Cañada women’s soccer team opened Coast-North Conference play last week, going 1-1. Skyline, meanwhile, will finally open conference play with a pair of games Wednesday and Friday.
The Colts hosted Evergreen Valley in the conference opener Oct. 4 and scored a pair of second-half goals to pull out a 3-2 win. Giselle Gutierrez and Rachel Mull each had a goal and assist for Cañada, with Mull notching the game-winner off an assist from Yara Gomez-Zavala in the 89th minute.
Cañada was not as fortunate Oct. 7, falling 2-0 to Cabrillo, which scored once in each half.
Skyline closed out its non-league schedule Oct. 7, dropping a 2-0 decision to Foothill. The Trojans open Coast-North play on the road at Evergreen Valley-San Jose at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and will host Las Positas-Livermore Friday at 12:30 p.m.
NO. 4 CSM VOLLEYBALL WINS COAST OPENER, VISITS SKYLINE WEDNESDAY
The College of San Mateo women’s volleyball team, ranked No. 4 in California, opened Coast North Conference play with a 25-21, 23-25, 26-24, 25-14 victory at No. 18 Hartnell College last week. The Bulldogs (12-3) take a seven-game winning streak to County rival Skyline College on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
