Defending state champion Bulldogs begin 2025 with win over Sierra

SAN MATEO – Defending 3C2A State and mythical national JC/CC champion College of San Mateo, ranked No. 1 in the state preseason coaches poll, got the 2025 football season off to a successful start with a 24-9 victory over visiting opening rival and No. 20 Sierra College Saturday afternoon at College Heights Stadium.

It was the 24th consecutive home win for the Bulldogs, covering a pair of state and national titles. Although rebuilding after sending a school record 47 players to 4-year colleges after last season's title run, CSM impressed with new quarterback Johnny Koett directing the offensive in impressive fashion with a scoring drive on his opening possession that resulted in a 28-yard field goal by veteran school record kicker Dieter Kelly (Orange Lutheran, Irvine). And the Bulldogs never trailed in the game, holding the Wolverines to just three field goals, before a huge opening crowd of 2,501.

CSM took a 10-3 advantage in the second quarter, grabbing the lead for good as Koett completed a 77-yard drive with a 21-yard TD pass to Jalen Arnold. Koett later ran five yards for a TD following a 73-yard pass play to Manu Richardson in the third quarter that gave the Bulldogs a solid 17-9 advantage.

Koett, a freshman from Sacramento, out of Vista Del Lago High, completed 10 of 18 passes for 179 yards without being intercepted.

Jamaal Wiley (Stafford) led San Mateo rushers with 70 yards on 11 carries and completed the scoring with a 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter, making it 24-9 after Kelly's third PAT kick. Josh Tucker (Fairfield), Dave Amos (Clayton Valley), and Malaki DeMoss (De Anza, Richmond) each caught a pair of passes.

On the other side, sophomore defensive back RJ Whitten (Folsom High) picked off a pair of  passes to stop Wolverines drives, gaining praise from CSM coach Tim Tulloch.

"A lot of guys played their first college game today," said Tulloch. "We kept the other team out of the end zone. But we have a lot of work to do."

CSM totaled 312 yards of offense and held Sierra to 278 – with no individual over 100 yards.

The Bulldogs continue non-league play on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Reedley College (0-1). The Tigers, who produced NFL quarterback Josh Allen of Buffalo, dopped their opener to Butte, 38-7.

San Mateo returns home Sept. 13 to host century-old rival Modesto JC.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
NATIONAL DIVISION NON-LEAGUE GAMES  |
Butte 38, Reedley 7
Diablo Valley 10, Fresno CC 3
Modesto JC 40, Laney 14
Monterey Peninsula 20, Foothill 17
Sacramento CC 16, Redwoods 13
San Jose CC 39, Shasta 19
San Mateo 24, ,Sierra 9
Santa Rosa JC 41, CC San Francisco 38 (OT)
Sequoias 21, American River 13

AMERICAN DIVISION NON-LEAGUE GAMES
Cabrillo 31, Contra Costa 7
De Anza 21, San Joaquin Delta 2|
Feather River 42, Coalinga 3
Hartnell 20, Chabot 14
Siskiyous 42, Gavilan 3
Los Medanos 52, Merced 16

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
NON-LEAGUE GAMES
Allan Hancock 42, Orange Coast 20
Antelope Valley 33, San Bernardino Valley 28
Bakersfield 28, Santa Ana 14|
Citrus 33, Chaffey 20
Desert 56, Los Angeles Pierce 27
El Camino 68, Santa Barbara CC 6
Fullerton 46, Moorpark 30
Golden West 31, Mt. San Jacinto 13
Grossmont 64, Compton 0
Mt. San Antonio 45, Cerritos 20
Riverside CC 53, Long Beach CC 30
Saddleback 28, Pasadena CC 21
San Diego Mesa 35, East Los Angeles 20
Santa Monica 59, Los Angeles Southwest 6
Southwestern 26, Canyons 24
Ventura 32, Palomar 21
Victor Valley 31, Glendale 17
West Los Angeles 27, Los Angeles Valley 10

(Fred Baer, College of San Mateo Athletics)