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Prep football: Terra Linda dents San Rafael’s postseason hopes with Bell Game victory

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Marinij.com 
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Terra Linda players celebrate with the Bell Trophy after defeating San Rafael 29-34 at the Annual Bell Game at San Rafael High in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

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Football is a game of inches and that was illustrated on a pair of plays in the fourth quarter – one made by Terra Linda’s defense and the other by TL’s offense – that helped the Trojans ensure the Bell Game trophy would remain in their possession for another year.

Terra Linda came up with a fourth-down stop at midfield then scored a touchdown to go up by two scores when running back Michael Graham got to the goal line and broke the plane just before getting stripped of the ball by San Rafael’s defense.

The Bulldogs scored a touchdown with about a minute left to play but TL quarterback Josh Milani hit Santi Frias for a first down to set up victory formation in the Trojans’ 34-29 victory in the annual cross-town rivalry game.

“It meant the most,” TL receiver Mateo Pattani said of the win. “We have a lot of seniors on this team – a lot of four-year players, a lot of veterans – and we just worked so hard. It started this summer. We worked our (butts) off and we grinded, man. These seniors really came together and worked for the future of this program. You know it’s a big deal when you have kids who are deciding whether they want to go to San Rafael or TL and winning Bell is such a big deal for us. Our seniors really fought hard and dug deep.”

San Rafael (5-5, 3-3 Mountain) came into the game already eligible for the North Coast Section playoffs while TL (5-5, 2-4) needed a win to become eligible – mirroring the situation both teams faced in last year’s Bell Game, won by TL.

The NCS overhauled its playoff format this year, grouping schools together based on competitive equity rather than size. Both teams made the postseason last year but are expected to be left on the outside looking in when the brackets are released on Sunday.

“We’ve been hearing a bunch of conflicting things,” TL coach Joe Ayoob said. “My understanding is that from our victory tonight and San Rafael’s loss, that could put us both out. … If we both wind up out, that will be tougher for them probably than for us because they were kind of on the door and we were just trying to get up on the porch and give ourselves a chance — which we did tonight — but more than likely we’ll probably both be watching (from home).”

San Rafael trailed 14-0 after the first quarter as TL’s offense was humming early. Quarterback Josh Milani had a pair of touchdown passes to Pattani as the Trojans took a 20-7 lead into the half.

San Rafael trailed the entire game but got close thanks to a pair of touchdown runs by Aedán Bardoul and a safety by the defense to pull within 28-23 at the end of the third quarter. The Bulldogs got the ball back and were at midfield with a chance to drive for their first lead of the game.

San Rafael came up less than a foot short of picking up a first down – close enough to require the chain gang to come out onto the field for a measurement. The Bulldogs went for it on fourth-and-short but were turned away by TL’s defensive line.

“Huge props to (the defense),” Milani said. “That was a huge momentum changer. That brought (San Rafael’s) morale way down and definitely kept us in the game right there.”

The other close call came at the end of TL’s ensuing drive. Graham, looking for his second touchdown of the game, got right to the goal line before being stripped by San Rafael’s Rio McLaughlin.

“My heart probably skipped three beats right there,” Ayoob said of the play.

The referees signaled a TL touchdown and the Trojans went in front 34-23 with 4:08 left on the clock.

“It was so close,” Pattani said. “I’m not gonna lie, I got really worried at first because I saw that ball come out and I wasn’t sure. I looked at the refs, they gave us the touchdown sign and we all got so happy. We knew that was kind of it. That was a huge touchdown.”

Undeterred, San Rafael drove the length of the field and scored when Lachlan Royston hit Haden Berlinksy for a short touchdown pass with 1:04 to play. TL recovered the ensuing onside kick then salted the game away on second down with a 16-yard pass from Milani to Frias.

Milani completed 20 of 30 passes for 225 yards and three scores. Pattani caught eight balls for 102 yards and two scores – including a 46-yarder on a fourth-down play in the second quarter for a 20-7 lead.

Royston completed 22 of 26 passes for 255 yards for San Rafael. Torin Pilla and Berlinksy both caught eight passes for 112 and 53 yards, respectively.

Terra Linda 34, San Rafael 29

Redwood Empire Mountain

TL 14 6 8 6 – 34

SR 0 7 16 6 – 29

SCORING SUMMARY

TL–Pattani 7 pass from Milani (Kokalis kick)

TL–Graham 2 run (Kokalis kick)

SR–Pilla 56 pass from Royston (Pilla kick)

TL–Pattani 46 pass from Milani (kick failed)

SR–Bardoul 3 run (Pilla kick)

TL–Kokalis 33 pass from Milani (Graham run)

SR–Safety

SR–Bardoul 19 run (Pilla kick)

TL–Graham 8 run (pass failed)

SR–Berlinsky 3 pass from Royston (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–TL, Graham 23-49, Milani 2-(minus-2). Totals 25-47. SR, Bardoul 12-68, Royston 2-15, Garcia 3-6, Corso 1-6, Chick 1-1. Totals 19-96.

PASSING–TL, Milani 20-30-0 225. SR, Royston 22-26-0 255, Miller 0-1-0 0. Sacks 2-16. Totals 22-27-0 239.

RECEIVING–TL, Pattani 7-102, Kokalis 3-63, Frias 5-42, Keenan 1-14, Cizmadia 1-11, Graham 2-(minus-1), Modesitt 1-(minus-6). Totals 120-225. SR, Pilla 8-112, Berlinsky 8-53, Canziani 4-73, Corso 2-17. Totals 22-255.

Records– Terra Linda 5-5, 2-4. San Rafael 5-5, 3-3.