Rolling with wins, Bulldogs set to face CCSF

Coming off from winning in conference against Santa Rosa Junior College, and last week against Foothill College, the Bulldogs' defense has been receiving attention.

With a week-one loss of 43-7 against Fresno City College (7-0), the Bulldogs used the loss as a key term that got the defense and the team winning.

"The men took a picture of the final score and some of them put that picture on their lockers as a remembrance of how we need to get better," said defensive coordinator and assistant football coach Tim Tulloch.

Fueled by that loss, the Bulldogs have been able to collect three shutouts and a six-game winning streak.

"Since the opening game, we corrected the basic mistakes that we were making and made it an emphasis to ‘do your job!' which basically implies that each person needs to control what they can control (themselves) and follow their job within the structure of the given defense and the rest will take care of itself," said linebacker D.J. McDonough. "Then the shutouts followed."

While allowing only 27 points during the six-game winning streak, the Bulldogs have beaten opponents such as Reedley College, Chabot College, and recently Foothill College while shutting out West Valley College, Los Medanos College, and Santa Rosa Junior College.

"Going for a shutout every game is the goal each week," said McDonough. "As the games get tougher each week we understand that it is unlikely, but striving for the shutouts definitely kept the defense motivated to be the best out there."

Linebackers D.J. McDonough and Tevita Lataimua lead the defense and have been a key factor for these low-scoring games.

"With us shutting down their offense, it allows our offense to get on the board," said Lataimua. "We are reminded of week 1. You take a look at that and you don't want to see that again."

Lataimua leads the team with 58 tackles and accounted for an interception. Lataimua's interception came during CSM's victory over Santa Rosa Junior College. Lataimua weaved his way up, down, sideline to sideline, and was taken down after a 56-yard return.

"We told him that he broke the school's record of total yardage in a play," said Tulloch, laughing. "We watched the play a few times in the film room."

"I've been calling him Reggie Bush all week at school," said wide receiver Antoine Turner. "It was fun to watch."