CSM still No. 3 in state, No. 1 in Nor Cal

Mt. SAC is in Saturday’s feature south finale, hosting No. 4 Golden West (8-1) for the Central League title. Mt. SAC appears ready to claim at least a state at-large berth. Golden West, if it loses, could contend with ninth ranked San Diego Mesa and No. 11 College of the Canyons (all likely at 8-2). for that SoCal open spot.

   Riverside clinched the Southern League title with last week’s 62-41 win over SD Mesa and received the remaining first place vote this week. The Tigers close at No 18 Fullerton (5-4).  

Northern California’s four playoff spots for Nov. 30 openers are nearly set. San Mateo won a third straight Bay 6 Conference crown and 20th consecutive home game, downing San Joaquin Delta, 61-7.

Although San Mateo has clinched the league’s state playoff berth, they need a win at Laney College on Friday night in Oakland to avoid a possible co-conference championship with current second-place Foothill (3-1 Bay 6, 6-2 overall). Fifth place Laney (1-3, 3-6) will be honoring retiring head coach John Beam, who recently led the Eagles to league and state titles.

San Mateo’s currently projected state playoff opponent Nov. 30 is state No. 10  American River College (6-3), the Nor Cal Conference champion which the Bulldogs defeated in non-league play. ARC beat Santa Rosa 45-21 for the conference title last week.

The Valley League is still in flux, where current leader and No. 7 Modesto (6-2) finishes by hosting No. 15 College of the Sequoias (6-3), which is currently tied for second place at 2-1 with No. 8 Fresno CC (7-2). Fresno is a strong contender for the Nor Cal at-large berth, prior to closing with rival and fourth-place Reedley (4-5). A Sequoias win would likely create a three-way tie, favoring Fresno. 

That could open the door for fifth ranked Butte (8-1) to claim the north at-large berth with a closing NorCal Conference triumph over visiting No. 21 Sierra (5-4) — which is in a second place tie with Butte at 3-1. Modesto, which gave CSM its only loss, also has a Nov. 23 non-league contest at No. 14 Foothill (6-2), which might impact the RPI seeding order. Extra non-conference games were added when Contra Costa had to cancel its season just prior to the start of 2024 play.

 Coaches poll has CSM No. 3; national poll ranks Bulldogs No. 1

The well respected Massey Ratings has San Mateo No. 1 among California’s 67 JC/CC teams and nationally, when ranking all 120 U.S. teams.

Top teams: 1. CSM; 2. Butte; 3. Riverside; 4. Fresno; 5. Mt. San Antonio; 6. Modesto; 7. American River.

The leading team outside of California is No. 24 Hutchinson CC, Kan. (8-1). 

Six of CSM’s last 10 opponents are among the top 11, including 2023 state champion Riverside, Fresno, Modesto, American River, No. 10 Foothill, and No. 11 Sierra.

That attests to the Bulldogs strong showing in the computer tabulations. It is also why San Mateo leads Northern California in the official RPI rankings, which determine the order for post-season play.

CSM will continue to play at home for all 2024 state playoff game — as long as it wins. Northern California semifinals are on Nov. 30, finals on Dec. 7, and the state championship game on Dec. 14.

Kelly kicks way into CSM record book

Bulldog’s place kicker, Dieter Kelly, could lay claim to being the best kicker in the Bay Area, regardless of level.

Kelly, a freshman out of Orange Lutheran in Southern California, suffered from stress fractures in his kicking leg during his senior year, forced him to rest and rehab through the remainder of the 2023 calendar year.

But a four-year school’s loss was CSM’s gain as Kelly has proven to be one of the best kickers in the nation.

Last week, he set a new CSM record when he booted a 52 yarder in the Bulldogs’ 61-7 win over San Joaquin Delta.

It’s his third kick of 50 yards or longer this season. He banged a 50 yarder in a 23-20 loss to Modesto Sept. 21 and tied the school record of 51 yards in a 17-14 win over American River Sept. 28.

His conversion against Delta gives him 14 field goals made for the season — also a CSM record.