SRJC football: Bear Cubs upset top-ranked San Mateo 17-14

Thanks to a 20-yard field goal by Andros Pedroza with 33 seconds remaining, Santa Rosa JC’s football team knocked off No. 1-ranked San Mateo 17-14 Saturday night at Bailey Field.

The Bulldogs came to town the top-rated team in the CCCAA Nor Cal National Division. Santa Rosa was No. 5 in the same poll.

Pedroza, a Santa Rosa High grad, transitioned from soccer to football this season. After missing two short field goals in the first half (one was blocked), he stepped up when needed most. Holder Albert Beltran got down a high snap in time and the ball sailed through the goal posts.

San Mateo (4-2) started its last drive on SRJC’s 44-yard line but couldn’t get any closer. Two desperation passes in the waning seconds were incomplete.

The Bear Cubs’ defense was outstanding. The visitors came into the game the third-highest-scoring team in the state, averaging just under 43 points.

“Our defense was phenomenal,” SRJC coach Lenny Wagner said. “We held San Mateo to 20 yards rushing in the first half.”

The Bulldogs finished with 125 yards.

Kevin Brown (Windsor) led the team with 11 tackles while Ethan Rosselli (Santa Rosa High) and Keilan Benjamin had eight apiece.

Meanwhile, the Bear Cubs (4-2) racked up 205 yards on the ground. Former Analy star Ja’Narrick James had the majority of those yards. The freshman finished with 144 on 25 rushes. He also scored the game’s first touchdown on a 13-yard run.

San Mateo was the second No. 1-ranked school the Bear Cubs have beaten this year. On Oct. 3, they traveled to Sequoias and walloped that team 44-0.

City College of San Francisco is expected to be the new No. 1. Santa Rosa hosts the Rams next Saturday at 5 p.m.