Coming off an impressive 41-7 opening victory on the road at American River, College of San Mateo’s football team will host cross bay rival Chabot College in the Bulldogs’ home opener on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. Chabot is also 1-0, following a 30-7 victory over Merced.

San Mateo completely shutdown powerful American River, which had not lost a regular season game since 2004. The Beavers went 10-0 in 2005, before losing a close bowl game to finish 10-1.

CSM sophomore quarterback Jose Avina, out of San Mateo High, ran 49 yards for a touchdown on the Bulldogs’ second offensive play and completed a 36-yard TD pass to freshman wide receiver Spencer Garrison (Woodside) on the next series. Coupled with conversion kicks by sophomore Gil Hernandez (Woodside), CSM had a 14-0 lead with less than eight minutes elapsed. Hernandez kicked for 10 points, including field goals of 35 and 19 yards.

The 6-0, 190-pound Avina completed 17 of 30 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns (both to Garrison) and ran for 92 yards on 10 carries and one TD. His total offense was 324 yards.

Garrison totaled 59 yards on five receptions. Sophomore Shaman Thompson, another Woodside grad, also grabbed five balls, for 57 yards. Sophomore slotback Isa Hines (San Francisco Lincoln) led CSM in receiving yardage with 84 on three catches.

Freshman Ronnie Haren (Galt) scored San Mateo’s final touchdown on an eight-yard run and totaled 15 yards on six carries. CSM rushed for 131 yards and passed for 286 for a total offense of 417.

CSM didn’t allow the Beavers to complete a long drive. American River’s only score came at the end of the first quarter, off a controversial fumble recovery on the Bulldogs’ 25. Following a long conference by officials, an ARC punt was ruled touched by the CSM receiver and recovered by the Beavers.

American River’s net yardage for the game was 111, including the ensuing 23-yard TD pass from Mark Weight to Brad Walker.

St. Francis grad Bill Ring, in his debut as a CSM defensive back, grabbed an interception and returned it 10 yards. He is the son of the 49ers’ Super Bowl winning running back of the same name, who previously starred for the Bulldogs.

Freshman David Singleton (Salesian) made his quarterback debut in relief of Avina and completed four of five pass attempts for 54 yards.

Garrison returned a kickoff 31 yards and a punt 20 yards to total 110 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in his first game.