Fresno City College Hosts #1 College of San Mateo Bulldogs on Saturday

The FCC Rams will host the College of San Mateo Bulldogs on Saturday, September 27 at Ratcliffe Stadium at 5:00 pm. This series between FCC (2-2) versus CSM (4-0) began with the 1973 Northern California championship game on December 1. The Rams won 21-2 and encored it with a 10-10 state co-championship against Los Angeles City College one week later. 

In 1997 FCC forged a six-game win streak against CSM before losing to the Bulldogs, 34-21. The next year, Rams won 43-41 with running back Maurice Morris, FCC's future two-time, first team JC Grid-Wire All-American, running to daylight and national rushing records. Morris transferred to Oregon where he became the starting running back and helped the Ducks to a 2002 Fiesta Bowl win. 

The Bulldogs evened this series at 9-9 with last year's 14-7 win in San Mateo. In addition to CSM's 14-game win streak, the Bulldogs have won the last seven games versus FCC. The Rams are ranked No. 17 in the latest JC Athletic Bureau Coaches poll, led by CSM's Bulldogs. 

In a 38-14-win last week at American River, the Bulldogs defense created four ARC turnovers in building a 28-7 halftime lead. This group of Bulldogs has a lot of bite and will chew up opponents like kibble. Meanwhile, FCC's 14-13 lead at CC San Francisco evaporated as those other Rams scored ten third quarter points while keeping FCC at zero. Fresno would rally with 14 fourth quarter points, but the home team scored with less than a minute remaining for the 29-28 win. A 59-yard field goal attempt by Lliam Peterson went the distance as time ran out but was wide left. Had Peterson's kick been good, it would have shattered the late Matt Nilsson's 53-yard school record game winner at Porterville in 1983.

While the great fortunes continue for San Mateo, last year's state runners up (space between the words), Mt. San Antonio College, previously ranked No. 2, encountered Citrus College. The Mounties result was not a hoot: 48-43 'Owls.'

Butte College, previously No. 3 is now No. 2 behind CSM. While the Bulldogs are here, Butte will visit No. 16 College of the Sequoias. If the Roadrunners beat COS and the Rams prevail over the Bulldogs, Butte could be No. 1 next week.

The Rams came close last week at CCSF and have provided good numbers on offense ever since the 10-3 loss to Diablo Valley (now No. 5 in the JCAB poll) in the season opener. The Ram's defense has bent but not broken and the kicking game is still strong. An FCC win would end the Rams losing streak against CSM and the Bulldogs current impressive winning streak which began last season. 

This game shapes up as the one to watch this weekend among California community college football matchups. Depending on which team you're rooting for, the final score could be epic.

This season, the Ram home games will be live streamed on the FCC YouTube Channel in partnership with CMAC.