Marin Catholic Dominates Cardinal Newman to Claim NCS Division III Championship

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Marin Catholic defender Mario Crocitto (44) pressures Cardinal Newman quarterback Jayson Colter (10) before Colter is sacked in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Cardinal Newman defender Logan Rodriquez (44) works to stop Marin Catholic quarterback Peter Macaulay (13) as Macaulay carries the ball for a first down in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Jordan Rogers (18) of Marin Catholic gets past a pair of Cardinal Newman defenders for a touchdown in the first quarter of the North Coast Section Division III title game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, November 25, 2023 (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Sean Peck (33) of Marin Catholic pressures Cardinal Newman quarterback Jayson Colter (10) in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Zach Taylor (4) of Marin Catholic (4) stops Jonah Bertoli (14) of Cardinal Newman on a punt return in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Brendan Ochoa (19) of Marin Catholic and teammate Ricky Kampmann (52) celebrate after defeating Cardinal Newman 24-3 in the North Coast Section Division III title game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Marin Catholic pose with their team plaque and pennant after defeating Cardinal Newman 24-3 in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Mario Crocitto (44) of Marin Catholic tackles Kenyon Hanlon-Strane (11) of Cardinal Newman in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Marin Catholic defender Chase Merrick (23) stops Zion Cargill (2) of Cardinal Newman during the North Coast Section Division III title game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, November 25, 2023 (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Jordan Rogers (18) of Marin Catholic runs for a touchdown in the first quarter of their North Coast Section Division III championship football game against Cardinal Newman at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 for the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Cal Regin (21) of Marin Catholic holds up the teams plaque after defeating Cardinal Newman 24-3 in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Charles Williams (3) of Marin Catholic is chased by Cardinal Newman defender William Funaro (8) as he runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Marin Catholic quarterback Peter Macaulay (13) passes during their North Coast Section Division III championship game against Cardinal Newman at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Marin Catholic receiver Braiden Bachich-Dixon (2) reaches for a pass while being defended by Spencer Jacobs (21) Cardinal Newman in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Marin Catholic defender Josh Riley (24) celebrates after the Wildcat defense stopped Cardinal Newman from getting a first down late in the fourth quarter in the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

SAN RAFAEL CA – NOVEMBER 25: Charles Williams (3) of Marin Catholic intercepts a pass to Cardinal Newman receiver Jonah Bertoli (14) in the fourth quarter of the North Coast Section Division III championship game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Marin Catholic defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 to claim the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

The Marin Catholic High football team’s defense heard an earful all week about the power of Cardinal Newman running back Zachary Homan.

And for good reason.

In Cardinal Newman’s two playoff victories leading up to Saturday’s North Coast Section Division III final against Marin Catholic, Homan posted gaudy rushing numbers of 654 yards and nine touchdowns — not to mention more than 2,000 rushing yards during the regular season.

On a chilly night in San Rafael, MC simply unplugged the power of Homan and, in the process, put the Cardinal Newman offense on tilt as the Wildcats rolled to a 24-3 victory. MC advances to a NorCal Regional Bowl. The matchups are set to be announced on Sunday.

Marin Catholic (12-1) captured its third consecutive section title, all coming at the hands of its longtime Petaluma rival.

“Homan is a heck of a running back,” MC linebacker Mario Crocitto said. “He’s a stud and so are all those guys on that offensive line. That’s all we worked on this week in practice was stopping their running game. We showed them a seven-man front and threw in a couple of new packages and I couldn’t be happier with the way this team responded tonight.”

The Cardinals, who are the last team to deny MC a section final victory in 2019, could not be pleased with the way Saturday’s game began.

After the MC defense forced a three-and-out punt on the contest’s first possession, Marin Catholic used just four plays to travel 62 yards capped by the only points the Wildcats would need when quarterback Peter Macaulay fired an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Rogers.

“We just came out strong tonight,” MC senior standout running back/cornerback Charles Williams said. “The seniors came out with the attitude that this was not going to be their last game. For me, I just do my best everyday by running through my progressions in practice and then every week I just come out and play ball.”

Williams was a tower of power on both sides of the ball.

On offense, Williams’ 65-yard catch and run set up MC’s second touchdown – a Macaulay four-yard run – early in the second quarter.

“We went over that play that produced the long catch and run this week in practice,” Williams said. “We thought we could turn it into something good. I just rolled with my blockers down the field and almost broke it.”

The three-play touchdown drive boosted the Wildcats’ lead to 14-3 — not good news for the Cardinals who could never quite get their star running back in the groove.

In fact, Homan was limited to less than three yards per carry in the first half — 47 rushing yards on 17 carries.

“Let’s be honest, our defense came to play,” Crocitto said. “We knew we had to shut down their running game. The defense did a great job of converging on the ball and that was the key to stopping a good running back like him because it takes more than one guy to tackle him.”

Marin Catholic upped its lead to 17-3 before halftime after Matthew Pedroni intercepted  quarterback Jayson Colter – one of four picks in the game by the Wildcats’ secondary – and set the table for a Charles Lewis 30–yard field goal.

The Cardinals hopes of a comeback were dashed – almost single-handedly by Williams – before the fourth quarter started.

Another MC interception, this one by Cal Regin, set the table for Williams, who raced 41-yards on a fourth-and-one for a touchdown that put the game out of reach for the Cardinals.

Perhaps, however, Williams’ most dynamic play of the game came on Cardinal Newman’s next possession.

The Cardinals, after three big-gain running plays near the end of the third quarter, appeared to finally have a touchdown in the bag when Colter lofted a long pass toward the end zone to an apparently open receiver.

But Williams would have none of that as he sped to the receiver at the last instant and somehow wrested the ball away in midair for an interception.

“It was an explosive play – it just happened so fast,” Williams said. “The ball was in the receiver’s arms when I got there but I just reached for the ball and got it. I’m not sure how I got it myself.”

Macaulay was solid at quarterback completing 6-of-13 passes for 129 yards. He was also the game’s leading rusher with 85 yards on 13 carries. Williams added 76 yards on 10 carries to overshadow his ballyhooed counterpart Homan, who managed only 79 yards on 24 carries.

“Our coaches and our players did a great job of preparing this week, especially on defense,” MC coach Mazi Moayed said. “They were pretty locked in. This might have been our best game of the year and it came at the right time.”

Marin Catholic 24, Cardinal Newman 3
NCS Division III Final

Cardinal Newman  3  0  0  0  –  3

Marin Catholic  7  10  7  0  –  24

SCORING SUMMARY

MC – Rogers 18 pass from Macaulay (Lewis kick)

CN – Gardner 30 field goal

MC – Macaulay 4 run (Lewis kick)

MC – Lewis 30 field goal

MC – Williams 41 run (Lewis kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Newman, Colter 6-(minus-13), Homan 24-79, Fa’agata 5-23, Gentry 3-23. Totals: 38-112. MC, Williams 10-76, Macaulay 13-85, Serafin 2-0, Johnson 1-3. Totals: 26-164.

PASSING – Newman, Colter 7-21-4 71. MC, Macaulay 6-13-0 129.

RECEIVING – Newman, Cargill 2-22, Hanlon-Strane 2-33, Berhe 1-3, Adan 1-11, Hamon 1-2. Totals: 7-71. MC, Rogers 3-44, Williams 1-65, Baker 1-16, Bacich-Dixon 1-4. Totals: 6-129.

Records – Cardinal Newman 11-2, Marin Catholic 12-1.

2023-11-26 11:15:00
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