San Francisco secures 10-0 regular season, Bay 6 championship with win over San Mateo

SAN MATEO - The matchup between the two top teams in Northern California came down to the final minute.

Clinging to a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter, the City College of San Francisco defense was on its heels as College of San Mateo drove into Rams' territory, looking to score the go-ahead touchdown. CSM quarterback Luke Bottari had just completed three straight passes, getting the Bulldogs to the CCSF 44-yard line.

But San Mateo would get no closer as Murvin Kenion III came up with his biggest play of the season. Kenion intercepted Bottari's next pass attempt at the 30-yard line with 59 seconds left to play to end the threat and secure a monumental 31-27 CCSF victory over the rival Bulldogs on Saturday in San Mateo.

With the win, the Rams wrapped up a perfect 10-0 record, a Bay 6 League championship, and Northern California's No. 1 seed for the upcoming regional playoffs. CCSF also snapped a four-game losing streak to the Bulldogs.

San Mateo dropped to 9-1 and will enter the postseason as the No. 4 seed. Wins by both teams in the first round of the playoffs would set up a rematch for the Northern California championship in San Francisco.

Saturday's contest was as expected, a battle of two unbeaten heavyweights. While the Rams' defense came up with the game-winning play, special teams also played a huge role in the victory. Trailing 10-7 in the second quarter, CCSF's Jaleal Williams-Evans blocked a punt deep in San Mateo territory that was scooped up by Zack Carlton near the goal line and ran in for a go-ahead touchdown.

Nick Hill nailed a 28-yard field goal with 5:35 left in the second and the Rams went into halftime with a 17-10 lead.


 Photo by Patrick Nguyen

CSM struck first in the third quarter, taking its opening drive of the second half the length of the field to tie up the game at 17-17. Bottari connected with Tre Hines for a 14-yard touchdown at the 10:42 mark.

The Rams responded with a pair of long drives to jump back out in front. Shawn Allen ran in from two-yards out to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive and quarterback Jack Newman hit Jeffrey Weimer with a 17-yard TD pass to close out a seven-play, 65-yard drive to extend CCSF's lead to 31-17 as the teams entered the final quarter.

San Mateo didn't go down easy. The Bulldogs got another TD pass from Bottari and a 41-yard field goal with 6:26 to play from Gable Plascencia to get within four points.

On the Rams' ensuing drive, they were stopped on fourth and one at the CSM 24-yard line, setting up the Bulldogs' final drive and Kenion's huge play.

The Rams closed out their first perfect regular season since 2015 and will look for more. Northern California Regional Playoffs seedings and bowl games will be announced on Nov. 21.

(CCSF Athletics)