#2 CSM BEATS #10 DIABLO VALLEY, 50-21, TO SET UP NOV. 15 TITLE FINALE AT CCSF

College of San Mateo Sports News  Nov. 8, 2014  Contact: Fred Baer baerf@smccd.edu           

SAN MATEO -- Michael Latu rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns as No. 2 state-ranked College of San Mateo ran past No. 10 Diablo Valley, 50-21, to remain undefeated in Bay 6 Conference play heading into next Saturday's championship showdown at No. 4 City College of San Francisco.

Latu, a 5-11. 220-pound sophomore out of San Mateo High, carried 22 times as the Bulldogs (8-1, 4-0 Bay 6) rolled for 401 yards on 69 rushes and had 640 yards of total offense on 84 plays in their final regular season home game.  DJ Peluso added 74 yards and Miles Willis 49 among the ten CSM ball carriers. Quarterback Justin Burgess was eight of 16 passing for 239 yards – including TD passes of 79 yards and 34 yards to Elias Vargas. .

The Bulldogs had no turnovers and took the ball away five times from DVC (6-3, 2-2), including four pass interceptions -- by Anthony Hines, Taylor Mashack, Kevin Powers, and Ahman Hayes. CSM has 13 interceptions this season, led by Hines with three.

The Vikings were held to seven yard rushing and 232 total yards. Mashack had five tackles and Hines and Hayes four apiece.

CSM struck first, following a 66-yard return of the opening kickoff by Raeshawn Lee, getting a 33-yard field goal from Justin Watts for a 3-0 lead just 2 1/2 minutes into the game.

But San Mateo did have to come from behind after the Vikings scored the first TD, on a three-yard run by Jake Vila, set-up by a 66-yard pass play from Adam Wood to Efrain Montalvo

The Bulldogs then got into gear, setting up with a 31-yard kickoff return by Lee, to take the lead for good.

Success pass completions from of 14 and 34-yards from Burgess to Vargas resulted in a 10-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter.   

It was 31-14 at the half, with the 79-yard hook-up between Burgess and Vargas providing that margin with 4:37 left in the second period. That's the longest passing TD of the season by the Bulldogs.

CSM PACES STATE RUSHING YARDS & PASSING EFFICIENCY:

San Mateo has the top rushing offense among the state's 69 teams, averaging 267.7 yards per game. The Bulldogs also have the most efficient passing attack, with state pacesetting marks of 10.2 yards per attempt and 19.4 yards per completion.  CSM's 35 rushing touchdowns leads the state.

CSM has two of the top kick returners in the state. Peluso ranks No. 7 with a 30.9 average and Lee is No. 14 at 28.8. As a team the Bulldogs are averaging 26.8 yards, No. 4 in the state. Peluso is averaging 98.7 all-purpose yards a game. Randy Allen's 8 1/2 sacks ranks No. 12 in the state (sixth among National Division players) and he has 15 1/2 tackles for loss.

TITLE SHOWDOWN:

CCSF and CSM have identical 8-1, 4-0 records heading into Saturday's 1 p.m. regular season finale between two of the top three teams in the state – and which will likely determine Northern California's top seed for the upcoming state playoffs. First round state playoff games and bowls games will be on Saturday, Nov. 22.