The College of San Mateo football had its best weekend of the season. The Bulldogs didn’t lose, no one was injured and they remain in first place in the NorCal Conference.

By the way, the Bulldogs had a bye. Saturday, things get infinitely tougher as the Bulldogs open NorCal play with a home game against Foothill.

“I just tried to stay healthy. Try not to do anything I might regret,” said CSM receiver Shaman Thompson. “I just prepared mentally for Foothill.”

While the players received a four-day weekend — they didn’t practice Thursday and Friday last week — the coaching staff used the week to catch up on things that have been put on the backburner since the season started.

“I was probably more busy [last] week than I was any other week,” said CSM coach Larry Owens.

While the players got a long weekend furlough, the coaching staff spent Saturday afternoon scouting Foothill and Saturday night watching City College of San Francisco, the Bulldogs’ next two opponents. In addition, they caught up on paperwork and other administrative duties.

“I like the bye,” Thompson said. “It gives us more time to prepare for Foothill.”

Foothill, on the other hand, is coming off a 42-14 win over Diablo Valley College last weekend. Owls’ assistant coach Jeff Remington said it doesn’t really matter that his team had one less week to prepare for their NorCal opener.

“I don’t think it’s any different than any other week,” Remington said. “We prepare the same going into this game as we would against West Hills or any other team.”

Foothill a mirror image

The Owls and Bulldogs are very similar in several respects. Both teams go into Saturday’s game with identical 5-0 records, having scored more than 200 points so far this season. Both are averaging over 40 points per game and are averaging right around 445 yards of offense per game.

“They’re a very good team,” Owens said. “Very structured. They have good athletes.”

The difference between the two teams is on the defensive side of the ball. The Owls allowed only 49 points through five games while CSM opponents scored 75. CSM opponents averaged nearly 300 yards of offense per game while Foothill gives up an average of 250.

Both teams run the ball very well. CSM has rushed for nearly 1,300 yards already this season, while Foothill is at an even 1,000. The Owls’ passing attack is a bit more prolific. They’ve thrown for more than 1,200 compared to 914 for the Bulldogs.

“If you love JC football, this is a good game to come and see,” Owens said. “Both teams are ranked high and it’s been a big rivalry over the years. It’s going to come down to who makes the least amount of mistakes.”

According the J.C. Grid-Wire, Foothill is the seventh-ranked team in the nation while the Bulldogs are tied for ninth, along with NorCal rival Santa Rosa.

Despite the difficulties Foothill presents, Owens is more concerned with his team. In fact, Owens goes on the offensive, saying it is up to Foothill to stop the Bulldogs.

“We’re not planning on them stopping us. We’re going to do what we do,” Owens said. “It’s our will versus their will.”

Reaching a national audience

A Boston Globe reporter and photographer will be in attendance Saturday, working on a story about the CSM football program.

Owens said he got a call a couple of weeks ago from the Globe, informing him that the newspaper was doing a series of stories on teams from five divisions of college football — Division I, Division I-AA, Division II, Division III and community colleges.

“It’s kind of neat when you’re one of five schools in the country (chosen for this kind of attention),” Owens said.

Owens admitted, however, he was a bit skeptical when he picked up his phone and heard a reporter from the Boston Globe wanted to do a story on Bulldogs’ program. But he got a call from a friend of his who said it was on the up and up. Owens said he was told the history of CSM — which includes coaching stints by John Madden, Dick Vermeil and Bill Walsh — was one of the factors in CSM being chosen.

Plus, California community college teams have done a good job of sending players to four-year schools as well as the pros.

“California JCs have done a good job putting kids out there,” Owens said.