San Mateo pulls away from Scots late

"I know our defense can play better and we didn't play San Mateo football in the first half," said San Mateo coach Jeff Scheller.

Despite the final score, the game was very much in doubt late into the fourth quarter. San Mateo (1-0 Ocean Division, 4-2 overall) took a 27-20 lead late in the third quarter and the score stayed that way. Midway through the fourth quarter, San Mateo appeared poised to put the game away, driving to the Carlmont 2. But on first down, the Bearcats fumbled the snap and the Scots recovered. The way Carlmont can move the ball, Scheller was less than comfortable on the sideline.

"It's a little scary, up only 27-20 the way Carlmont's offense is," Scheller said. "(The hardest part is) just (Carlmont's) accuracy. Even if we knew where the ball was going, they still completed passes."

He had good reason to be nervous. The Scots moved the ball methodically down the field, reaching the San Mateo 27 before the drive stalled. A holding call on the Scots moved the ball back to the Bearcats' 40. Facing a fourth-and-long, San Mateo's Aaron Lavulo ended the drive with a sack.

Two plays later, the Bearcats all but iced the game when David Rango went 43 yards for his third touchdown of the game to put San Mateo up 34-20 with 2:25 left to play. Rango finished the game with 171 yards on 16 carries.

San Mateo added an insurance score 39 seconds later when Danny Vargas intercepted a Carlmont pass and returned it 34 yards to the Carlmont 11. Two plays later, George Naufahu swept into the end zone, with John Niupalau delivering a pancake block to spring Naufahu for the final score.

In the first half, however, it seemed like whichever team had the ball last was going to win. San Mateo took a quick 6-0 lead when Naufahu took the opening kickoff 97 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. The extra point was blocked, however.

Carlmont (0-2, 3-3) responded on its first drive of the game. Starting from their own 40, the Scots needed only six plays to find the end zone. Quarterback Nick Passanisi hooked up with Tenshow Streets for a 30-yard scoring strike on a slant pass. Michael Rosenberg's extra point gave Carlmont a 7-6 lead with 9:20 to play in the first quarter.

San Mateo responded in kind, scoring on its first possession from scrimmage. Beginning from their 29, the Bearcats moved the ball down the field. On first down from the Carlmont 49, Lemoto Filikitonga ripped off a 25-yard run and on the next play Rango scored his first touchdown of the day -- a 24-yard scamper for a 13-7 lead.

The teams traded turning the ball over downs on their next possessions before Carlmont took a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter, getting a huge break in the process. On first down from their own 11, the Scots fumbled the ball. All the San Mateo defender had to do was fall on the ball. Instead, he tried to pick it up and ended up kicking the ball through the end zone for a touchback and a Carlmont first down at the 20. The Scots took advantage of the reprieve, driving 80 yards on eight plays. On second down from the San Mateo 33, Passanisi found Rosenberg on a post pattern, who he made a great stab at the ball for the catch and went into the end zone.

Passanisi had another stellar effort, completing 24 of 41 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Rosenberg was the main recipient, catching nine passes for 106 yards and two scores.

San Mateo re-took the lead on its next drive, with quarterback Mitch Labbie finding Niupalau in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard score to cap a 10-play, 55-yard drive. Carlmont tied the score on its next possession when Rosenberg caught a 4-yard scoring pass with 19 seconds left in the half. The Scots missed the extra point, however, and the two teams went into the locker room at halftime tied.