Defending champion San Mateo and runner-up Riverside City headline preseason football polls

SAN MATEO – Defending 3C2A state champion College of San Mateo (12-1) is the top pick among California Community College football coaches in the annual preseason poll, conducted by the JC Athletic Bureau.  Finalist Riverside City College (also 12-1 in 2022) is No. 2 and the leading SoCal selection. In fact, the top four teams in both the JCAB and CCCSIA (California Community College Sports Information Association) polls mirror each other with San Mateo, Riverside, Mt. San Antonio and Fullerton leading the way.

San Mateo beat formerly undefeated and then top-ranked Riverside, 55-0, in the state title game at CSM. Both teams were the winningest among the USA’s 121 JC/CC teams (67 in the CCCAA) with their 12-1 records. San Mateo brings a National Division leading 6-game win streak into the 2023 campaign.

Last season’s regional American Division champions, Citrus (in the south) and Feather River (in the north) each had 11-0 campaigns (best W-L records in the USA) and move-up to the National Division this year.

KEY OPENERS, Sat., Sept. 2: #1 San Mateo at #14 Sierra; #20 Long Beach at #2 Riverside; Mt. San Jacinto at #3 Mt. San Antonio; Santa Barbara at #4 Fullerton; Sacramento at #5 American River; Bakersfield at #6 Golden West; #25 Santa Rosa at #7 CCSF; Saddleback at #8 Ventura; #21 Sequoias at #9 Butte; Antelope Valley at #11 Cerritos; Southwestern at #16 El Camino; Orange Coast at #17 Hancock; #18 SD Mesa at San Bernardino; #23 Citrus at #21 Canyons; Chabot at #22 Feather River; #24 East LA at Grossmont.   Feather River has a USA JC/CC leading 21-game winning streak.

Note: Early openers on Friday, Sept. 1, included: #13 Modesto at #10 Laney and #19 Diablo Valley at #12 Fresno.

CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 2022 TITLE GAME WRAP: CSM 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. 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 17^th rushing TD of the season.

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 future Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman’s season rushing record for the Bulldogs. Moleni totaled 1,400 season rushing yards and 18 touchdowns (to lead the state’s National Division in that category), smashing the 1,253 yards by Edelman in 2005.

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 -- while outscoring three foes 115-5. Previous widest margin of victory and only other shutout came in 1967, the initial CCCAA (single game) state championship: Fullerton 41, American River 0.

CSM linebacker Taniela Latu (a coaches All-America selection) was the Bob Stangel defensive player of the game with three tackles for loss, including a sack, plus a forced fumble. 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 intermission.  

Final yards: Moleni 232 (CSM game record) and Evans 148 (388 net for the all-state duo). Moleni rushed for 506 yards in the three state playoff games.

(Fred Baer, JC Athletic Bureau)