No. 1 Bulldogs hold off No. 4 Diablo Valley 30-24 in Bay 6 opener

SAN MATEO – No. 1 state-ranked College of San Mateo ran its overall winning streak to 16 games after a 30-24 victory over No. 4 Diablo Valley College in both teams' National Bay 6 League opener on Saturday. The victory also marked the Bulldogs' 26^th straight at its home field, College Heights Stadium.

Both teams came into the highly-anticipated contest with unbeaten records but its CSM that remains as just one of six teams in the state with perfect 6-0 records.

San Mateo continues to find ways to win. Despite being outgained on offense by Diablo Valley 369 yards to 140, the Bulldogs made the most of their scoring chances and came up with solid defensive plays to turn away the upset-minded Vikings.

After a scoreless opening quarter, the CSM defense limited Diablo Valley to a field goal early in the second while the Bulldogs got a one-yard touchdown reception from backup quarterback Luke Alexander to Quinton Togiai to go ahead 7-3. Dieter Kelly booted in the first of three field goals in the contest, this one from 30 yards out, to send San Mateo into the locker room with a narrow 10-3 lead at halftime.

The game finally opened up in the second half.

Diablo Valley quarterback Kalani McLeod tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Khai Taylor at the 9:31 mark in the third to tie up the game. But CSM responded on its ensuing drive with am eight-yard TD run by Malakhi DeMoss to go ahead for good.

The Bulldogs went on to score 17 unanswered points to pull away. Alexander hit Kai Hamilton for a two-yard TD reception to open the fourth quarter and Kelly was good from 47 yards out to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 27-10. He added a 46-yard field goal with 1:55 play to close out CSM's scoring.

DVC got a late touchdown, a nine-yard strike from McLeod to Taylor, with 36 seconds left on the clock to have late hope. But the Bulldogs were able to recover the onside kick attempt and run out the clock for the win.

Alexander was solid in his first start of the season. He completed 6 of 8 passes for 73 yards with a pair of TDs and no interceptions. Jalen Arnold had 3 catches for 67 yards and DeMoss led with 16 carries for 50 yards.

The San Mateo defense came up with a pair of big interceptions on McLeod. With Diablo Valley threatening to score in the red zone, Phoenix Rose picked off McLeod's pass in the CSM end zone and ran it all the way back to the DVC 14-yard line for an 86-yard return.

RJ Whitten had the other interception for CSM while the Bulldogs got sacks from Nate Abbott, Albert Tuakalau, and Khayri Jett.

The Bulldogs will hit the road next Saturday (Oct. 18) to take on Foothill College in a 6 p.m. National Bay 6 League game.