Sierra Outlasts Defending Champion San Mateo in 4OT Thriller, 29-25

3C2A Football: Standings l Scoreboard

San Mateo, Calif. – The road to a third-straight 3C2A and national JC/CC football title for College of San Mateo took a slight detour Saturday afternoon in a four-overtime titanic battle with non-league foe Sierra College resulting in a 29-25 loss.

Wolverines' Abraham Hunter ntercepted the potential tying CSM pass near the goal line, returning it for 97 yards for the final two points of the contest. (In the fourth OT, teams only have conversion plays.) Both teams are now 1-1 to start the season.

Following a controversial referee video/tablet review and reversal of a play that appeared to set up the potential winning score, the game was knotted at 17 all at the end of regulation play.

Then it got more interesting. San Mateo started the overtime on the Sierra 25. But Austin Rovig was picked off on the first play by Lamir Robinson, setting up the Wolverines for the potential winning score on their first OT possession. But on third and 12 with the winning 30-yard field goal attempt lined up, the Bulldogs' Marshawn Dunning saved the score with a block with David Dika recovering, resulting in a scoreless extra period.

Sierra took the ball first in the second overtime and scored on an 18-yard pass from Ricky Cole to Sentori Martino. But the Wolverines were unable to successfully complete the two-point converstion as Cole was sacked on the pass attempt.

On the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs advanced to the Wolverine five, where Rovig connected on a five-yard pass to Long, tying the score. CSM needed only one point to win, but two-point conversion attempts are mandated in the second OT. Rovig's potential winning conversion pass attempt fell incomplete

Subsequent overtime periods are merely conversion plays, from the 3-yard line. Rovig found Kai Hamilton in the end zone, and Cole passed to Martino to make it 25-all after three OT's.

Sierra opened the fourth extra period with a similar Cole-Martino completion for a 27-25 lead. Rovig's attempt for a further deadlock went awry with the final attempt to Hunter resulting in the game-ending pick by Hunter.

Sierra had comeback to take a 17-14 lead as the third quarter ended on a 41-yard TD pass from Dempsy James to Anthony Gallagher.

The Bulldogs put together the potential winning drive with 3:19 left in the final period, starting with a 36-yard pass from Rovig to Hamilton, reaching the Sierra 26. Rushes by Dominick Gonzalez and Hamilton got the Bulldogs to a crucial third and goal situation at the five, where the game reached a turning point.

Rovig connected with Riley Long, who hauled in a five-yard pass near the left sideline, getting both feet inbounds before eventually falling to the ground several steps outside the sideline, where the ball did bobble. The initial ruling was a completed pass, setting up the Bulldogs with a first-and-goal inside the two.

Sierra Head Coach Ben Noonan called timeout and asked officials for an official's review, which ultimately overturned the catch, saying the ball was fumbled out of bounds. CSM coach Tim Tuilloch, subsequently, also asked for an additional review. The ruling was confirmed, so the Bulldogs settled for a fourth down tying field goal of 24 yards by Logan Calder that sent the game into overtime.

Rovig, in his second start for the Bulldogs, completed 10 of 20 passes for 148 yards but his two interceptions proved costly. Latu led CSM rushers with 41 yards on six carries, and Gonzales had 29 yards on a dozen trips. Arnold caught three passes for 40 yards.

On defense, Danny Niu had eight tackles, five solo.

CSM totaled 246 yards of offense but gave up 354 to Sierra.

(College of San Mateo Athletics)

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL CONFERENCE 
NON-LEAGUE GAMES  
Butte 24, Sacramento 7
Coalinga 48, Los Medanos 24
De Anza 35, Laney 31
Diablo Valley 36, Sequoias 17
Fresno 24, Foothill 10
Hartnell 26, Chabot 21
Merced 44, Contra Costa 13
Modesto 42, Santa Rosa 14
Redwoods 31, Reedley 23
San Francisco 18, American River 17
San Jose 10, Monterey Peninsula 6
Shasta 59, San Joaquin Delta 0
Sierra 29, San Mateo 25 (4 OT)
Siskiyous 66, Gavilan 0  
*Feather River at Cabrillo (Postponed to Oct. 3)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION  
NON-LEAGUE GAMES
Antelope Valley 45, West Los Angeles 14
Bakersfield 28, Allan Hancock 14
Cerritos 31, Moorpark 19
Chaffey 44, Santa Ana 21
Desert 34, Glendale 28
El Camino 43, Canyons 24
Mt. San Jacinto 29, Long Beach 12
Palomar 26, East Los Angeles 7
Pasadena 54, Santa Barbara 21
Riverside 20, Golden West 17
Saddleback 39, Citrus 29
San Bernardino Valley 69, Los Angeles Valley 10
San Diego Mesa 20, Mt. San Antonio 19
Santa Monica 56, Compton 16
Southwestern 52, Grossmont 10
Ventura 33, Fullerton 20