Prep football: Week 10 game preview capsules for all Marin teams
The final week of the regular season has arrived and, while some teams can already make their postseason plans, a few teams may need to earn their way in with a victory in the final game.
Marin Catholic and San Marin are definitely in. It’s just a matter of where they wind up. Marin Catholic is a lock to make the North Coast Section Open/Division I bracket and San Marin is almost certainly in as well with another win.
Tam is the next highest-ranked Marin team but as of now is not yet eligible for playoffs. The Red-tailed Hawks host Napa in a must-win game on Saturday.
Redwood and San Rafael are among the Marin teams that are eligible for the playoffs already. The Giants might be in good shape while the Bulldogs could use another win to bolster their resume.
Archie Williams, with a .500 record in D-V, is eligible for D-VII but its low ranking could work against it.
Novato is eligible and Terra Linda can become eligible with a win in Friday’s Bell Game against San Rafael but their rankings suggest getting selected to the playoffs could be a long shot.
Branson looks on course to be the No. 2 seed in the 8-person D-I bracket.
Friday
Elsie Allen (5-4, 3-1) at Tomales (2-6, 2-2 NCL III), 6 p.m., Tomales
The Braves secured their second consecutive win with a 20-14 victory against Potter Valley last week. The tale of the tape suggests the quest for a third straight win will be tougher against an Elsie Allen squad that has three wins over teams that Tomales has lost to this season.
The Lobos took down Calistoga 20-18 and defeated Round Valley twice – 24-0 and 44-18. Tomales fell to Calistoga 42-16 and lost to Round Valley 27-8.
Terra Linda (4-5, 1-4 Mountain – #82) at San Rafael (5-4, 3-2 – #60), 7 p.m., San Rafael HS
The annual Bell Game closes out the regular season for both teams. San Rafael is playoff eligible already but probably needs another win to shore up its bid.
As a D-IV team, the Bulldogs can only drop as far as D-VI, so a ranking somewhere in the 50-60 range could put them within range for selection. The Trojans, also D-IV, are likely ranked too low to receive consideration even if they secure their fifth win of the season.
TL won the Bell Game 21-14 last season to get into the playoffs with big performances from then-seniors QB Garrett Pardo and RB Jonah Truett. San Rafael had won two consecutive Bell Games in fall of 2021 and 2022. Prior to that, TL had rolled off 18 consecutive Bell Game wins.
Marin Catholic (7-2, 4-0 Adobe – #5) at Windsor (7-2, 2-2 – #12), 7 p.m., Windsor
The Wildcats are fresh off a massive 13-3 win over previously undefeated Cardinal Newman that secured their status as the first champions of the new Redwood Empire Adobe league. MC is practically assured of a spot in the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoffs, which will feature the top eight teams in the section.
Windsor, which gave both Cardinal Newman and San Marin all they could handle in close losses this season, is on the outside looking in and is likely headed to D-II.
MC’s defense stood tall last week against Cardinal Newman, which is still ranked a spot ahead of MC despite last week’s result. Cornerback Chase Merrick had two game-changing interceptions as MC held Cardinal Newman to just 50 passing yards.
Rancho Cotate (4-5, 0-4 – #26) at San Marin (6-3, 1-3 Adobe – #8), 7 p.m., San Marin
San Marin is also assured of advancing to the postseason and could move up to No. 7 in the Open/D-I bracket following the NCS’ decision earlier this week to disqualify El Cerrito from the postseason. A loss could see the Mustangs drop down into the D-II bracket.
San Marin is coming off back-to-back losses, 31-3 against Cardinal Newman and a 17-7 loss in bad weather against Vintage.
The Mustangs face Rancho Cotate, the only Adobe team not ranked inside the top 20 in NCS. Rancho Cotate is led by QB Wyatt Gregori (976 yards, 7 TDs) and RB Gio Martinez (667 yards, 7 TDs).
Novato (5-4 – #67) at Justin-Siena (3-6 – #64), 7 p.m., Napa
The Hornets are technically playoff eligible thanks to both their overall and league records but, as a D-III team, the lowest the Hornets can tumble and still get selected is D-V. Novato would likely need to be ranked much higher to gain entry into that bracket.
Nevertheless, the Hornets wrap up the regular-season campaign with a non-league game against an old MCAL foe in Justin-Siena. The Hornets last faced the Braves in 2017, losing 41-0 during a winless campaign.
After reeling off five consecutive wins – and allowing just 21 points during that stretch – the Hornets have returned to earth during the toughest part of their schedule, with three consecutive losses to Sonoma Valley, San Rafael, and Piner.
Redwood (5-4, 3-2 Valley – #38) at American Canyon (8-1, 4-1 – #21), 7 p.m., American Canyon
The Giants are also playoff-eligible thanks to both their overall and league records but, as a D-II school, can only move as far down as D-IV. Redwood’s ranking suggests the Giants are in range for consideration.
An upset win over American Canyon would go a long way but the Wolves have been strong all season, losing only to Valley champion Casa Grande. Redwood’s run defense will need to be sturdy against RB Andre Lopez (1,250 yards, 18 TDs) and dual-threat QB Mason Harris (846 rushing yards, 16 TDs).
Saturday
Calistoga (2-6, 0-4) at Branson (5-2, 3-1 NCL II), 1 p.m., Ross
The Bulls put themselves in a good spot to earn a home game in the 8-person D-I playoffs following a huge 76-40 win against Roseland University Prep last week. Branson closes the regular season against a Calistoga team that has dropped its past five games.
These two programs last squared off in 2023 with the Bulls rolling to a 66-30 victory. Branson QB Thomas Lardner threw five touchdowns in that game including two to WR James Stovell.
Senior WRs Mo Jacoby and Chase Hoeveler have been Lardner’s top two targets so far this season.
Piner (7-2, 4-1) at Archie Williams (4-5, 2-3 Mountain – #80), 2 p.m., San Anselmo
The Peregrine Falcons are playoff eligible thanks to a 2-2 record against D-V opponents. Archie Williams opened the campaign with wins against Kennedy (Richmond) and Encinal then lost to Concord and Sonoma Valley.
Piner has been tough against Marin opposition this season, sweeping through San Rafael, Novato and Terra Linda each of the past three weeks by a combined score of 99-40. TL played Piner the toughest, falling 21-14 two weeks ago.
The Peregrine Falcons coming off a wild 43-42 win against Healdsburg that saw them trail by seven in overtime before scoring a touchdown and going for a two-point conversion to secure the win.
Napa (0-9, 0-5 – #87) at Tam (2-7, 2-3 Valley – #37), 2 p.m., Mill Valley
In terms of making the NCS postseason, the Red-tailed Hawks have perhaps the most at stake of any Marin team this weekend. Tam cannot secure a .500 record overall or in D-III so its only path is a .500 record in the Valley. Tam’s ranking is high enough that attaining eligibility should be enough to get it into the postseason.
After a somewhat surprising loss against run-heavy Petaluma last week, Tam’s last chance comes against a winless Napa team that has been outscored 374-148 this season. Napa is coming off its closest defeat of the year, a 26-21 setback against Justin-Siena last week. Tam rolled past Justin-Siena 47-0 back on Sept. 28.