CSM WRAPS UP REPEAT BAY 6 FOOTBALL TITLE & HONORS RETIRING HEAD COACH LARRY OWENS

Contact: Fred Baer,  baerf@smccd.edu

CSM WRAPS UP REPEAT BAY 6 FOOTBALL TITLE & HONORS RETIRING HEAD COACH LARRY OWENS

College of San Mateo's 66-21 win over Santa Rosa JC Saturday in Coach Larry Owens last regular season home game wrapped up a repeat Bay 6 League football title and a state playoff berth for Nov. 18.

A special ceremony honored Owens for his 21 years as head coach with a record of 127 wins and 90 losses to date. He has announced his retirement at the end of the season.

The Bulldogs (8-1, 4-0 Bay 6) extended their Bay 6 winning streak to nine games over two seasons. The highest scoring team in Northern California (44.3 points per game) has one regular season game remaining, at third place Diablo Valley College (5-4, 2-2) in Pleasant Hill on Friday evening (Nov. 10) at 7 p.m. Santa Rosa fell to 1-7, 1-2.

NOV. 18 STATE PLAYOFF OPENER PROJECTED AT CSM: With all three Northern California, National Division league races settled, CSM is tentatively slated to host NorCal League runner-up College of the Siskiyous (7-2, 3-1) in a first round state playoff game on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 18, in the Bulldog Bowl. Valley League champion Laney (8-1, 4-0) is projected to play at NorCal League champion American River (8-1, 4-0) in the other region semifinal that day, based upon current power rankings. The Bulldogs could drop from the No. 2 to No. 4 seed should they be upset at Diablo Valley, however, and then face a first round road game at American River.

CSM and 2016 state runner-up American River are currently tied with the best records in Northern California. ARC holds a 1-point, 21-20, non-league victory over San Mateo.  

KENDRICK PACES TO OFFENSE: CSM quarterback Miles Kendrick completed 13 of 18 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 51 yards and a third TD against Santa Rosa. "He made some nice throws," said Owens. "I liked the way he played. Our offensive line also did a good job." Kendrick co-leads the Bay 6 with 13 TD passes and his 168.0 passer efficiency rating is the best in Northern California. He also leads the North in yards per attempt (9.9).

The Bulldogs accumulated 300 yards of offense in the first 20 minutes of the game, scoring on their first five possessions to take control, 35-7.

Cameron Taylor ran for scores on San Mateo's first two possessions. The freshman running back, out of Hillsdale High, ranks No. 9 in the state in rushing TDs with 12 (although playing in only seven games) – and is No. 6 in point scoring with a 10.3 average per game.

Rajae Johnson caught five passes for 126 yards and a score. Jared Latu had five receptions for 84 yards and two TDs. They pace the Bay 6 in, respectively, yards per game (95.4 and 77.6) and  TDs (9 and 7).

CSM rolled for 479 total yards, needing only 24 minutes of possession time (out of the game's 60 minutes). San Mateo leads all 31 Northern California teams in total offense, averaging 453.0 yards per game.

State punting leader Justin Watts (44.3 average) didn't have to punt until near the end of the fourth quarter. He did see plenty of action, kicking for 12 points, including a 33-yard field goal – plus 11 kickoffs (averaging 60.3 yards). He leads all NorCal placekickers with 63 points.

Sophomore linebacker Dorrzel Hicks led the Bulldogs defense with six solo tackles and an assist, including two tackles for loss. Deon White and Steven Doughty each had seven total tackles too.

Sophomore defensive back Jordan Hendy had a 43-yard interception return for a TD in the third quarter.