College of San Mateo scored touchdowns on its first five possessions and never looked back in running past formerly top-ranked Modesto JC, 45-16 Saturday afternoon at College Heights Stadium.

The 2-time defending 3C2A state champion and currently fourth-ranked Bulldogs (3-1) led, 35-0, in the second quarter before century-old rival Modesto (2-2) could even get on the board. CSM had beaten Modesto in the 2025 NorCal title game before defeating Golden West College to repeat as state champions.

Following a QB sack by Khayri Jett to end Modesto's first Saturday possession with a punt and an 18-yard return by Jalen Arnold, CSM was set up at the Modesto 37. San Mateo needed just four plays to score. Arnold ran for 13 yards and Dominick Gonzalez concluded the drive with rushes of 20 and three yards to give the Bulldogs a lead they never relinquished.

The drive chart saw this scenario five consecutive times: Modesto punt, CSM TD – for that 35-0 margin. San Mateo stymied Modesto with nine QB sacks.    

Freshman quarterback Austin Rovig had an outstanding day leading the Bulldogs to paydirt, completing 12 of 16 passes for 137 yards. He threw six yards to Arnold for the second CSM score. Arnold returned the next Modesto punt 55 yards to put the Bulldogs ahead 21-0. 

Saliou Sow did most of the rushing damage on the next CSM drive, which he concluded with a 1-yard rushing TD. Gonzalez completed a 6-play 48 yard drive with a 10-yard run to account for the 35-0 lead six minutes before the intermission.

Gonzalez led San Mateo rushers with 72 yards on 11 carries and Sow had 31 yards on nine trips.

CSM did not have any turnovers. And the Bulldogs made Modesto pay dearly for a third quarter interception by Jadyn Hudson, who returned the theft 25 yards for a 42-9 advantage.

Logan Calder kicked a 34-yard field in the fourth quarter to add to his five PAT points in the game.   

"We fired on all cylinders," said CSM coach Tim Tulloch. "I liked what Austin (Rovig) did. He protected the ball, running the offense. Arnold was good in the receiving and return game."

Arnold had 29 yards on four catches, also 83 yards on three punt returns, scoring both ways. Kavon Collins had 59 yards on four pass receptions.  

Danny Niu led CSM on defense with eight tackles and had one of the Bulldogs nine sacks. Vern Wolframm had two sacks among his five tackles. Beaux Sauve and Tresor Mulumba each had 1 1/2 sacks.

Defense did make the difference. Modesto, ironically, led CSM in all the offensive categories: rushing yards, 139-135; passing yards, 165-159; total offense, 304-295; first downs, 22-21; offensive plays, 67-49; time of possession, 32:45-27:15. The Bulldogs, however, led in sacks, 9-1; tackles for loss, 11-3; interceptions, 1-0 (that went for a TD); total tackles, 75-56; and pass break-ups, 4-0.  

--CSM (3-1) concludes non-league play next Saturday hosting No. 3 ranked Diablo Valley College (4-0) in a battle between the top two ranked NorCal teams.

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--Fred Baer, CSM Athletic Communications