The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.
CSM sophomore Jeremiah Hill, left, returns a kickoff with Sierra’s Donovan Grenz in pursuit Saturday at College Heights Stadium. Photo by Patrick Nguyen.
For the eighth straight season, the College of San Mateo Bulldogs won their football season opener. The last four of those victories have come against Sierra College.
CSM (1-0) rallied late to come away with a 24-9 win Saturday over the Wolverines at College Heights Stadium. Clinging to a 10-9 lead late in the third quarter, the Bulldogs scored on back-to-back possessions to take the game in hand.
In 2024, Sierra was one of the most prolific scoring teams in Northern California, ranking sixth in the region in points scored. The reigning state champion Bulldogs, however — last season’s No. 1 defense in the state — didn’t let the Wolverines (0-1) see the end zone, as the Rocklin squad relied on three first-half field goals Ryan Eisert for all their points.
“Shoutout to [defensive coordinator Hansen Sekona] and our defensive staff,” CSM head coach Tim Tulloch said. “It’s hard to win games when you can’t put the ball in the end zone.”
Sophomore cornerback RJ Whitten totaled two interceptions, but it was freshman linebacker Veni Wolfgramm that turned in the defensive play of the game.
After CSM bumped the lead to 17-9 on a quick three-play, 75-yard drive with 6:35 to play in the third quarter, Wolfgramm recorded in a key stop to stifle a Sierra drive. The Wolverines moved it across midfield after a third-down stop thanks to a Bulldogs unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Sierra soon faced fourth-and-7 from the CSM 27-yard line and opted to go for it.
The Wolverines got close, but Wolfgramm clamped down on running back Dempsy James’ 6-yard carry with a battering-ram tackle a yard shy of the line to gain to force a turnover on downs.
“For a true freshman straight out of high school — he’s one of the guys, I thought he was one of the top linebackers in the state last year and just got overlooked a little bit because of his height — and we just love the way he plays,” Tulloch said.
CSM freshman Kayson Dahl tips up a pass for sophomore cornerback RJ Whitten, front, to intercept Saturday at College Heights Stadium. Photo by Patrick Nguyen.
CSM outgained Sierra 312-278 in total yards, with freshman quarterback Johnny Koett leading the way.
Koett is one of three QBs on the Bulldogs’ roster, and was officially named Saturday’s starter late in the week. The 6-1, 190-pounder out of Vista de Lago-Folsom threw for over 5,000 yards in three varsity seasons. He gained 180 total yards in his collegiate debut, going 10-of-18 passing for 179 yards and one touchdown throw, while rushing 1 yard for another score.
“Good first start,” Tulloch said. “He got into a good rhythm in the second half and he had good leadership on the sideline in the huddle on the sideline … did a great job of protecting the ball … and when you do that you can move the ball and capitalize off turnovers.”
With sophomores Malakhi DeMoss and John Stowers pairing out of the backfield, Koett completed three of his first four passes on the opening drive. He misfired on third-and-7 at the Sierra 11, setting up sophomore kicker Dieter Kelly for a 28-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs up 3-0, but the possession timed at 9:28, allowing CSM to set the tone.
Sierra tied it early in the second quarter on a 31-yard field goal from Eisert. But the Bulldogs charged right back down field with a pair of third-down conversions before Koett hit Jalen Arnold for a 21-yard scoring strike to swing back ahead 10-3.
Eisert hit two 47-yard field goals, the second on the final play of the first half to draw the Wolverines close at 10-9. But it’s as close as they would get, as the CSM defense got two stops to start the second half as the offense started to pull away.
“I thought it was good,” Tulloch said. “It’s always good to be able to start on the right side of the equation with the win and get a lot of our young guys their first start.”
Freshman running back Jamaal Wiley took the lead out of the backfield, leading the Bulldogs with 11 carries for 70 carries and one touchdown.
Koett blasted into the end zone in the third quarter to improve CSM’s lead to 17-9, on a quick three-play drive highlighted by a big 73-yard completion to freshman Manu Richardson. Then, after Wolfgramm’s fourth-down stop, CSM sustained another long drive of 6:28 with Wiley taking runs of 4, 17, 20 and 1 yards before adding a 1-yard touchdown run with 10:21 to play.
The Bulldogs dominated in time of possession, doubling up Sierra 40:35 to 19:25.
The win marks CSM’s 24th straight home victory.
The Bulldogs are on the road this week, traveling to Reedley College Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff. CSM returns home Saturday, Sept. 13 to host Modesto College at 1 p.m.
