Prep football: Marin Catholic unable to right ship in close loss to Manteca

Last season, the Marin Catholic football team — then 0-2 — rode the momentum of a one-point victory on the road against Manteca into a seven-game winning streak and a Redwood Empire Adobe League title.

Saturday in Kentfield, undefeated Manteca returned the favor to the winless Wildcats with 15-14 road victory.

Of course, only time will tell the impact this year’s one-point battle will ultimately have on Marin Catholic (0-3).

But one thing’s for sure: MC coach Mazi Moayed is on uncharted ground.

Moayed said this is the first time the Wildcats have started a season 0-3 since he took over the head coaching reins in 2010.

“Manteca made more plays than we did in the second half,” Moayed said. “This is two great battles in two years against them. Credit Manteca, they’re a great team with a great coaching staff.”

Manteca was able to generate a lot of pressure with its pass rush, piling up 10 sacks against MC with seven of those coming in the second half.

“They brought a little more pressure in the second half and they were blitzing a lot more,” said MC quarterback Dylan Skrinar, who completed 13-of-28 passes for 191 yards and accounted for touchdowns through the air and on the ground. “But I could have done more. I could have connected on some things in the second half.”

The Wildcats, using a hurry-up offense utilizing quick-hit passes, seemed more than capable of racking up big air yards after a fairly productive first half which they exited with a 14-7 lead.

But the second half was something of a nightmare for MC.

“We made some mental mistakes but we can clean those up easily,” Skrinar said. “That’s the bright side.”

The not-so-bright side for MC was that it had only four first downs (one by penalty) and 42 total yards of offense in the second half.

“(Skrinar) took some shots but he made a ton of good plays. He’s a warrior.” Moayed said. “We have to do a better job of both protecting the quarterback and getting rid of the ball quicker.”

When the MC offensive engine was humming in the first half, the Wildcats were difficult to corral.

After the defense made a three-and-out stop early in the opening quarter, MC’s offense went to work at the Manteca 43. A roughing-the-passer penalty and a pass-interference call put the Wildcats on the doorstep.

Two plays later, Skrinar scampered into the end zone from eight yards out for the game’s first touchdown.

The Buffaloes answered back on the ensuing drive when quarterback Owen Gully connected with receiver Quinn Martinez on a quick pass in the middle of the field. Martinez slipped a tackle near the 20-yard line and raced untouched into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown.

With four minutes remaining in the half, Marin Catholic took a 14-7 lead when Skrinar fired a strike in stride to Jarred Geissberger on a post pattern for a 68-yard touchdown.

After MC struggled on its first possession of the second half, Manteca countered with a quick-strike play of its own. Running back Nikko Juarez, initially stopped cold at the line of scrimmage on an off-tackle rushing play, reversed field and rambled 55 yards to the MC 1-yard line to set up a short run for the Buffaloes’ second touchdown.

Manteca appeared content to kick the extra-point and tie the score. But an off-sides penalty on the Wildcats changed the visiting coach’s mind and he went for a two-point conversion and the lead.

Gully’s quick-toss completion in the flat to a wide-open Martinez accounted for the winning and final points of the game.

Manteca 15, Marin Catholic 14

non-league

Manteca  0  7  8  0  –  15

Marin Catholic  7  7  0  0  –  14

SCORING SUMMARY

MC – Skrinar 8 run (Stephens kick)

Man – Martinez 30 pass from Gully (Navarro kick)

MC – Geissberger 68 pass from Skrinar (Stephens kick)

Man – Lopez 1 run (Martinez pass from Gully)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Manteca, Juarez 9-83, Slikker 1-2, Martinez 1-0, Gully 4-(minus-2), Tialavea 16-51, Lopez 2-6. Totals: 33-140. MC: Geissberger 7-27, Skrinar 14-(minus-49), MacAulay 2-8. Totals: 23-(minus-14).

PASSING – Manteca, Gully 11-20-0 101. MC, Skrinar 13-28-0 191.

RECEIVING – Manteca, Juarez 1-9, Slikker 3-22, Martinez 4-40, Cardoza 2-17, Harris 1-13. Totals: 11-101. MC, MacAulay 1-13, Bullion 2-13, Brisbin 4-36, Milan 2-39, Greco 3-22, Geissberger 1-68. Totals: 13-191.

Records – Manteca 3-0, Marin Catholic 0-3.