CSM claims piece of Bay 6 Conference football title with a little help from its friends

“It’s good,” CSM head coach Tim Tulloch said. “Consistency is hard. Winning a championship is hard. Being consistently in that conversation is harder. So, I’m proud of the staff and the players. It’s really a new group of players ... and they’ve done a really good job. And I feel us improving ... and we just need to be at our best when our best is needed, and it’s needed now.”

Tulloch watched DVC’s 34-21 win Friday night over CCSF via livestream, knowing both teams are ticketed for the 3C2A postseason. While the outcome benefitted the Bulldogs in the Bay 6 standings, it was just scenery in terms of the playoff seeding.

CSM earned the No. 1 seed in the six-team Nor Cal field, it was announced Sunday. The Bulldogs earn a first-round bye, and will host the winner of this week’s postseason opener between CCSF and Fresno City College.

“As long as we won, we were going to be the 1 seed,” Tulloch said. “So, we controlled our destiny.”

While the Bulldogs hung 52 points on an opponent for the second straight week, it was the defense that stole the show by proving No. 1 in the state, ranking first among all 3C2A programs in points per game allowed (13.6) and yards allowed per game (195.5).

“Yeah, it’s the standard,” Tulloch said. “That’s our mission, to be the best defense in the state every single year.”

CSM outgained Laney 400-150 in total yards, while the Bulldogs’ defense totaled three sacks and two interceptions. After CSM kicker Dieter Kelly capped the opening drive with a 35-yard field goal, the defense made its mark immediately as sophomore edge rusher Albert Tuakalau sacked quarterback Tre Dimes on first down. Two plays later, sophomore linebacker Bruce Uperessa sacked Dimes to force a three-and-out.

The Bulldogs took over near midfield, and used a 14-yard carry by true freshman Dominick Gonzalez, and back-to-back carries by sophomore Ali Collier of 28 and 11 yards to set up a 10-yard scoring run from Gonzalez to up the lead to 10-0.

Gonzalez eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for the second straight week, totaling 21 carries for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns. He added a 16-yard scoring run with 6:10 remaining in the game to up CSM’s lead to 38-20. Collier added 17 carries for 91 yards.

“He’s stepped up and he’s earned himself more and more touches, some more opportunities on the field,” Tulloch said. “He’s improved with his reads and his consistency. For a true freshman, there’s a big adjustment from high school to college, and seeing him emerge with Ali Collier, and (sophomore) John Stowers is in there too ... they all give us different things, they’re different styles of backs, and Dom does a great job with his his explosivity. And he’s tough. He’s not the biggest guy on the field, but he runs big, and he runs tough for his size.”

The CSM defense held Laney (1-4, 2-8) scoreless for most of the first half, but the Eagles got on the board to end the first quarter when Jayden Bridgewater intercepted a pass by freshman quarterback Luke Alexander for a 34-yard return on a pick-6. Alexander made up for the passing miscue twice over, however, following with two touchdown passes to freshman tight end BJ Thurman of 1 and 27 yards late in the first half.

Laney’s offense broke through 44 seconds before the half when a 31-yard carry by Julius Carroll moved the Eagles into the red zone. After two running plays went nowhere, Laney scored on third-and-goal with a 6-yard pass from DJ Duran to JP Peter — but the point-after try was blocked by CSM sophomore Trevon Watson to make the score 24-13 at the half.

CSM’s defense opened the second half by forcing a three-and-out. The Bulldogs then went on an eight-play, 65-yard march — with an 18-yard carry by freshman Jalen Arnold, followed immediately by Gonzalez runs of 23 and 9 yards — capped by a 1-yard QB keeper by Alexander tom make it 31-13.

Alexander totaled three touchdowns on the day, including an 8-of-20 passing clip for 106 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Laney got in the end zone once more, sustaining a nine-play, 67-yard drive, capped by a 5-yard scoring run by Felipe Baires. But the Bulldogs finished the day with three unanswered touchdowns over the final six minutes, including a 5-yard run by sophomore Tyreece Bramwell, and a 32-yard pick-6 return by Uperesa.