Prep football: Week 2 game preview capsules for all Marin teams

The North Coast Section playoffs have undergone a dramatic change this season with teams now being pulled into different divisions based on competitive equity rather than school size.

That being said, there are several games on the schedule this week that could go a long way toward determining where teams get slotted come playoff time. Redwood and Novato are both playing teams right next to them in the current MaxPreps rankings. Tam is facing a Las Lomas team ranked 10 spots higher but dragged the Knights into overtime last season before falling by a single point.

San Marin is the only game in town on Friday night, hosting Moreau Catholic while everyone else hits the road. Saturday afternoon features compelling home games for Tam, Redwood, and Novato. TL plays its homecoming game on Saturday night at San Rafael High.

Friday

Moreau Catholic (1-1, #31 in NCS) at San Marin (2-0, #10 in NCS), 7 p.m., San Marin

The Mustangs and Mariners have played each other every season since 2018, with the exception of the pandemic-shortened spring campaign. Moreau Catholic won three times between 2018-9, including a North Coast Section playoff game, but it’s been all San Marin ever since. The Mustangs won 37-14 in 2021, 28-14 in 2022, then posted a 49-0 shutout last season. San Marin threw six touchdowns against Moreau Catholic last year, including the first scoring pass of Daniel Rolovich’s varsity career. WR Wesley Timmel was a big-play threat, catching three balls for 115 yards and two touchdowns. So far this season, Moreau Catholic has posted a 37-0 win against St. Mary’s (Albany) and a 41-27 loss to Salesian. The Mariners have done most of their damage on the ground, with RB Jayden Bryant accounting for 348 yards and five touchdowns.

Archie Williams (2-0, #80 in NCS) at American Canyon (2-0, #19 in NCS), 7 p.m., American Canyon

The Peregrine Falcons are coming off a 39-34 victory against Encinal but face a big step up in class against the Wolves. American Canyon is averaging 41.5 points per game with wins over Wood and Foothill (Pleasanton). The Peregrine Falcons’ run defense will be tested as the Wolves come in averaging 321.5 rushing yards per game. RB Andre Lopez has led the backfield so far with 383 yards and five touchdowns. QB Mason Harris is also a dual-threat with 135 yards and three scores on the ground to go along with 358 yards and two scores through the air. Archie Williams held on to beat Encinal after building a 39-21 lead.

Branson (1-0) at Fresno Christian (1-1), 7 p.m., Fresno

The Bulls avenged a loss from last season by defeating Priory 42-28 last week. Branson gets an opportunity to avenge another setback, this time against the Eagles, who defeated the Bulls 60-32 last year. Then-senior QB Logan Stotts threw five touchdowns in that game and supported two 100-yard receivers in Jude Sheppard (125) and Joshua Kubota (100). Fresno Christian has been playing QB by committee so far this year with four different players attempting passes. Kubota, the team’s leading receiver with 61 yards, is also the leader in attempted passes with 11. Nine different players have carried the ball and five different receivers have caught passes. Branson has been led by QB Thomas Lardner (193 yards), RB Colby Buxton (88 yards), and WR Mo Jacoby (106 yards).

Marin Catholic (0-2, #9 in NCS) at Manteca (2-0, #6 in Sac-Joaquin), 7:30 p.m., Manteca

The Wildcats continue their non-league gauntlet through the Sac-Joaquin Section against the Buffaloes, who are ranked one spot below St. Mary’s (Stockton) and two spots below Inderkum – MC’s first two opponents this year. The Wildcats came away empty handed in those contests, but made a game of it against St. Mary’s, falling 35-22 after losing 26-0 to Inderkum in their season opener. Manteca has split time between two quarterbacks in Preston Smith (100 yards) and Owen Gully (126 yards). RB Nikko Juarez has been the team’s top offensive weapon with 421 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Marin Catholic WR Braiden Bachich-Dixon is coming off his best game of the season with five catches for 116 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Saturday

Tomales (0-2) at Crystal Springs Uplands (0-1), noon, Hillsborough

The Braves have endured a rough start to the season, losing to Calistoga and Stuart Hall by a combined score of 114-24. This week, Tomales travels to face the Gryphons, who opened their season last week with a 58-34 loss to NCS D-II 8-person champion Roseland University Prep. Tomales faces Roseland University Prep next weekend so a win against the Gryphons could be essential to avoiding an 0-4 start.

Encinal (1-1, #92 in NCS) at Novato (0-1, #91 in NCS), 2 p.m., Novato

The rankings will be put to the test as just one spot separates the visiting Jets from the host Hornets. This matchup could also provide the Hornets with a barometer for its game against Archie Williams in two weeks. The Peregrine Falcons jumped out in front of the Jets on Saturday, leading by as many as 18 points before holding on for a 39-34 victory. Novato was competitive in its season opener against Washington (S.F.) two weeks ago, falling 21-14. RB John DeMartini was the team’s most consistent offensive performer, racking up 92 yards on 10 carries.

San Rafael (2-0, #48 in NCS) at Lincoln (0-0, #2 in San Francisco), 2 p.m., San Francisco

Lincoln has been hugely successful in the Academic League, losing just one league game over the past three seasons. The Mustangs capped the 2022 season by winning the State 7-A title with a 54-6 victory against Crenshaw. Last season, the Mustangs lost in the playoffs against eventual State 7-A champion Strathmore. San Rafael moved up 14 spots in the NCS rankings after shutting out Fremont 34-0 last week. RB Josue Munoz has been a spark on offense with two rushing touchdowns in each of the first two games.

Maria Carrillo (2-0, #41 in NCS) at Redwood (1-1, #42 in NCS), 2 p.m., Larkspur

The Giants are set to play host to the Pumas in another battle between teams separated by just one spot in the NCS rankings. After beating San Leandro 21-14 on a fourth-quarter TD run by Sean Cunneen to open the season, the Giants came back down to earth, falling 24-6 against a tough Rancho Cotate team. The Pumas have blowout wins against El Camino and Freedom under their belts this season. Maria Carrillo’s defense has been stout so far, allowing just 14 points this season.

Las Lomas (2-0, #15 in NCS) at Tam (0-2, #25 in NCS), 2 p.m., Mill Valley

Tam’s tough non-league slate continues but this game might be a bit more personal than the previous two losses to Bishop O’Dowd and St. Ignatius. Tam battled Las Lomas on the road last season, going to overtime before losing 27-26 in controversial fashion. Tam drove down the field with the score tied at 20-20 in the final seconds of regulation and kicked a potential game-winning field goal that was ruled wide by the officials. The Wolves scored on the first possession of overtime. Tam’s Connor Weisburg scored his second rushing touchdown of the game to pull the Red-tailed Hawks within 27-26. Tam’s two-point conversion came up short to end the game.

Skyline (1-0, #4 in Oakland) vs. Terra Linda (1-0, #72 in NCS), 7 p.m., San Rafael HS

The Trojans looked impressive in their season opener two weeks ago and now face the Titans, who could provide them with a measuring stick. Skyline is ranked one spot below Fremont in the Oakland Section. San Rafael just blasted Fremont 34-0 last week. New TL QB Josh Milani, who transferred from Rancho Cotate, made an immediate impression throwing for 209 yards and four touchdowns two weeks ago. Mateo Pattani was his top target, with two catches for 71 yards – including a 69-yard touchdown. Ezequiel Rodas paced the ground attack with 56 rushing yards.