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It was the third state title in four years for CSM and coach Tim Tulloch, who won a championship on the road for the first time.

"They aren't always pretty but they count," said Tulloch. "We knew it was going to be a 4-quarter game. They got momentum. And momentum in this game is a tough thing to deal with."

CSM, with its state-leading defense in control for three-quarters, took a 28-7 lead into the final period -- before the host Rustlers went on a rampage, led by quarterback Kauna'oa Kamakawiwo'ole. He connected with JD Aliea on a 4-yard pass with 33 seconds left to play to make it 28-27. But his 2-pt. conversion attempt to Ayden Goodwin fell short, under pressure from Bulldogs defensive back RJ Whitten. After the kickoff, CSM needed only a final kneel down to end it.

Golden West's rally started with an 80-yard drive, resulting in Aaron Mitchell's 17-yard run to cut the deficit it half at 28-14 less than a minute into the final quarter. After holding the Bulldogs to a 3-and-out -- and despite their 65-yard punt by Ethan Ling -- Golden West was then able to go 93 yards to close to within one score after Mitchell's 4-yard rushing score.

San Mateo had taken control early, grabbing the lead for good at 14-7 with 7:31 left in the second period on an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Luke Alexander to Kavon Collins.

A 28-yard pick-six interception return for a TD by Whitten put the Bulldogs up, 21-7, before halftime. A third-quarter interception in the end zone by game defensive MVP Jeremiah Lewis set up the Bulldogs for their final score. An 80-yard drive was completed by Malakhi DeMoss on a 22-yard run.

The final theft, by Whitten, with 5:13 left, put the Bulldogs in position to clinch it, with the ball at the GW 31. But the Rustlers' defense held firm and CSM's state-leading field goal kicker Dieter Kelly just missed to the right on a 49-yard attempt. Golden West took over -- but only got to its own 47 (on a pass interference penalty).

After a pair of pass break-ups by Whitten, CSM went on offense at the 2-minute time-out, but also could not move the ball. That forced a punt. It took only three passes by Kamakawiwo'ole, starting on his own 25, to get into the end zone in 25 seconds for the potential tying/winning points.

The opponents traded scores early. San Mateo drove 54 yards in the first quarter, with game MVP Dominick Gonzalez running the final 20 yards for the first TD, with 3:07 left. Golden West came back with a 70-yard drive, aided by a pair of major penalties, to score on Aaron Mitchell's 2-yard rush.

Four pass interceptions by CSM and its state-leading pass defense made a difference.

Golden West picked off the Bulldogs twice to stay in it – and finished with 320 passing yards and 445 total offense yards. CSM had the rushing advantage, 155 to 125.

Golden West wide receiver Dom Thompson had ten receptions for 132 yards and received the game's outstanding offensive player award.

CSM freshman quarterback Alexander was effective when needed, completing 8-of-11 passes for 84 yards. Gonzalez had 74 yards on 11 carries (6.7 average) and DeMoss led all rushers with 92 yards on 24 trips – as the Bulldogs hogged the ground.

Ardwon Morris paced Golden West with 55 yards on 12 carries.

Lewis a freshman linebacker, had eight tackles (6 solo), including a tackle for loss, a pass break-up, and the interception for the Bulldogs.

Golden West had completed its first perfect 10-0 regular season to rank No. 1 in the JC Athletic Bureau's final regular season poll for the California Community College Football Coaches Association, ahead of No. 2 CSM. San Mateo won a fourth consecutive Northern California Football Conference championship to return to the state finals.

SAN MATEO - Under rainy, stormy and otherwise difficult playing conditions, the College of San Mateo turned in the most one-sided victory in California Community College Athletic Association football championship game history, 55-0, over formerly unbeaten and top-ranked Riverside City College to claim the Bulldogs first official state gridiron title Saturday afternoon at College Heights Stadium.

The Bulldogs finished their season with a 12-1 overall record while 2019 state champion Riverside City, which was making its impressive third straight appearance in title game, also finished 12-1.

CSM (12-1) scored the only points it needed less than two minutes into the game on a 33-yard run by All-America running back and game MVP Ezra Moleni. That was with 13:14 remaining in the first quarter. It was set up by a 61-yard return of the opening kickoff by Jeremiah Patterson to the Riverside 35. Moleni took three handoffs to reach the end zone with his 17th rushing TD of the season.

"You can't say enough about him, how hard he runs," said CSM coach Tim Tulloch.

After holding Riverside to a quick 3-and-out, it was the same story on San Mateo's second series - another 3-carry Moleni series, capped by his 61-yard scoring run that also broke Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman's season rushing record for the Bulldogs. Moleni now has 1,400 rushing yards this season and 18 touchdowns (to lead the state's National Division in that category), smashing the 1,253 yards by Edelman in 2005.

Later in the first period, J'Wan Evans, an all-state running back for the Bulldogs in 2021, made it 21-0 with his own 2-play series of 18 and 42 yards.

The first quarter stats illustrated the game: CSM 233 yards of offense (all rushing) to 55 for the Tigers.

On a wet day, San Mateo's state-leading defense (allowing only 12.8 points per game coming in) topped Riverside's National Division-leading offense (590.9 yards per game). CSM totaled 446 yards, while limiting the Tigers to 224.

RECORD MARGIN: San Mateo set a state playoff series record, not allowing a touchdown throughout their three-game playoff run while outscoring three foes 115-5. The previous widest game margin of victory and only other shutout came in 1967, the initial CCCAA (single game) state championship when Fullerton beat American River, 41-0.

CSM linebacker Taniela Latu was the defensive player of the game with three tackles for loss, including a sack, plus a forced fumble. San Mateo forced the Tigers to punt 11 times..

San Mateo was in full control at halftime, 35-0. All Bay 6 quarterback Richie Watts connected with tight end Brendan Doyle, the offensive player of the game, on a 33-yard scoring pass, and Evans ran 67 yards to make it 35-0 at the break.

At halftime, Moleni had 164 rushing yards while Evans had 149 – totaling 311 on the ground. Moleni finished with a CSM single-game record 232 yards while Evans finished with 148 for 380 net yards for the all-state duo. The previous Bulldogs game rushing record was 228 yards by George Naufahu in 2013 against De Anza.

Two-time all-state placekicker Gabe Plascencia added fourth-quarter field goals of 31 and 24 yards and had 13 points in the game, giving him a season total of 96 points. That continues to lead Northern California and added to his Bulldogs career kicking record, totaling 195 points.

Doyle also had the final touchdown, a 22-yard pass from back-up QB Jerry Johnson.

WEATHER A FACTOR: Otherwise, neither team accomplished much through the air on the rainy and windy day. Riverside's All-America quarterback Jake Retzlaff had trouble connecting with his cadre of elite receivers, finishing just 7 of 26 for 52 yards. He was sacked four times and intercepted by a trio of Bulldogs: Shamoun Duncan-Niusulu, Tyrice Ivy Jr., and Kavika Baumgartner. Baumgartner returned his theft 16 yards for the only third-quarter score and had a fumble recovery as well.

Tulloch had high praise for the 6-3, 275-pound Baumgartner, an All-America selection on the defensive line by coaches this season. "His leadership in the locker room and on the field has been invaluable," said Tulloch. "And he could have left with a scholarship last year."

Retzlaff was also Riverside's top rusher, with 48 yards on 12 carries – for a total offense of 100 yards. Donovan Harvey paced Tigers running backs with 39 yards on eight carries.

For CSM, Watts was 4-of-13 for 44 yards -- with no interceptions or sacks. The Bulldogs did not commit any turnovers.

Arturo Orozco led the Riverside defense with eight tackles while Alonzo Gray-Hall had seven. Each of them had five solo stops. Alex Navarro-Silva had a pair of tackles for loss for the Tigers and finished with five total tackles.