CSM running back Nate Sanchez, a sophomore out of Serra, was one eight Bulldogs to earn All-Nor Cal honors for 2023. Two CSM players were named to the All-American team as well. Photo by Patrick Nguyen.

The football season may be over, but the postseason awards continue. After cleaning up the Bay 6 Conference honors, a handful of College of San Mateo players earned All-Northern California recognition and two earned All-America status from the JC Athletic Bureau.The JCAB awards are voted by California community college coaches. The state of California has more than 60 teams playing community college football, more than any other state.

CSM quarterback Anthony Grigsby was named All-American as a utility player, piggy-backing off his Northern California Offensive Player of the Year honor.

Grigsby is the second straight Bulldog to earn the Nor Cal Offensive Player of the Year honor, with Ezra Moleni winning the award in 2022.

Grigsby — a 5-10, 188-pound redshirt freshman from Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove, threw for 3,527 yards and 34 touchdowns this season — just behind Jordan Barton, whose Riverside team beat CSM 24-21 for the state championship Dec. 9. Barton finished the season with 3,990 yards passing and just one more touchdown pass for 35.

Joining Grigsby on the All-Northern California and All-American team is CSM kicker Caleb Ojeda. The 5-11, 180-pound sophomore from Live Oak-Morgan Hill, was ninth in the state, going 10-for-14 on field goals, with a long of 47. His 71 extra points on 73 attempts was far and away tops in state and he finished with 101 points.

In addition to Grigsby and Ojeda, the Bulldogs had three other named to the Northern California offensive team. David Fononga — a 6-2, 295-pound freshman from Aragon — was named one of seven offensive linemen to the team. Nate Sanchez — a 5-10, 200-pounds running back from Serra — also earned a Nor Cal nod.

Anthony Freeman, a freshman wide receiver from De Anza High School-Richmond, was named to the Nor Cal team as a multi-purpose player. Freeman finished with 40 catches for 660 yards and seven touchdowns. He also led the Bulldogs in kickoff and punt return yardage — gaining 454 yards on 17 kickoff returns, taking one to the house. He had another 165 on 10 punts.

The CSM offense was eighth in the state in yards gained with nearly 5,800 in 13 games. They were fifth in the state in passing yards with 4,045. The Bulldogs led the state in touchdowns with 75.

Three more Bulldogs earned Nor Cal recognition on the defensive side of the ball. 6-3, 285-pound sophomore Soane Kolokihakaufisi out of San Mateo, along with 6-0, 265-pound sophomore Max Dickson from Valley Christian, were named All-Nor Cal defensive lineman. Ja’ir Smith, a 6-1, 190-pound sophomore from Mallard Creek-North Carolina, was named one of Northern California’s best defensive backs.

And to top off the CSM Nor Cal haul, CSM head coach Tim Tulloch was named Nor Cal Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. He helped guide the Bulldogs to a 11-2 record and a second straight Northern California title.