Prep football: Week 3 preview capsules for all Marin teams

The final week of non-league play for most of the Redwood Empire divisions is upon us. The Valley — with Tam and Redwood in it — and the Mountain — which houses San Rafael, Archie Williams, Novato, and Terra Linda — both begin league play next week.

The Adobe is only a six-team division while the others all have seven teams so Marin Catholic and San Marin still have another week before entering the fray.

The in-county schedule is highlighted by an all-Marin matchup as Tam travels to face Marin Catholic in what is expected to be the last day game at home for the Wildcats. MC’s lights are tentatively set to be turned on for the San Marin game on Oct. 10.

San Marin is playing at home for the first time all season on Friday night against Casa Grande.

Friday

Casa Grande (0-3, #26 NCS) at San Marin (3-0, #8 NCS), 7 p.m., San Marin

The Mustangs and Gauchos began playing each other last season – a memorable game that saw San Marin survive a scare and win 39-37 on a last-second field goal by kicker Nate Mandelbrot. The game was tied 22-22 after three quarters as the two teams went up and down the field on each other, trading touchdowns. Casa Grande scored its last touchdown inside the final minute and opted to go for the lead with a two-point conversion. The try was successful, leaving San Marin to scramble for points on its final drive. The Mustangs worked the ball into field-goal range then Mandelbrot connected from 36 yards out.

Redwood (1-2, #33 NCS) at Castro Valley (0-3, #68 NCS), 7 p.m., Castro Valley

The Giants are facing the Trojans of the West Alameda County – Foothill division. North Coast Section rankings place Castro Valley somewhere below San Rafael but well above Terra Linda, Archie Williams, and Novato. The Trojans have sustained three one-sided losses so far – 51-19 to Livermore, 35-19 to Foothill, and 49-13 to Woodside. Redwood appears to be trending up after a disappointing 7-2 loss to San Leandro to start the season. The Giants’ defense kept them in the game for a while in a 27-7 loss to Rancho Cotate then the offense came along for the ride, accounting for three scores in an impressive 35-14 win against Maria Carrillo that helped Redwood vault up six spots in the MaxPreps rankings this week.

Saturday

Tam (0-3, #42 NCS) at Marin Catholic (0-3, #7 NCS), 2 p.m., Kentfield

The Red-tailed Hawks hung around for a bit against the Wildcats during the 2023 NCS playoffs but lost 42-0 against MC last year. Tam will be facing a Wildcats team determined to make a statement and avoid an 0-4 start. With a road date against Pittsburg, the No. 2 team in the section, up next, MC almost has to have this one to avoid an 0-5 start. Tam is coming off a 22-14 loss to San Rafael during which the Bulldogs scored the final 22 points of the game. Despite its winless record, MC has had a decent look at two victories against highly-ranked opponents. The Wildcats lost by a single point to Inderkum in the first game of the season and lost by one again last week at home against Manteca. MC has been very pass heavy so far this season. Sophomore QB Dylan Skrinar attempted 40 passes last week, completing 23 of them for 294 yards. Nick Brisbin emerged as one of Skrinar’s top targets with six catches for 78 yards against Manteca.

Eureka (1-1, #55 NCS) at Novato (0-2, #89 NCS), 2 p.m., Novato

The Hornets are coming off their bye week and are hoping to get healthy before they face off against the Loggers. Novato has been hurting, particularly at the quarterback position as starter Trevor Cleary went down with an injury in the first game then backup CJ Castro played through an injury in the second game. As such, the Hornets have managed just one touchdown through two games – a pass from Castro to Hayden Yaeger in a 35-9 season-opening loss to Santa Rosa. Eureka has leaned heavily on the run through two games, gaining 465 yards on the ground as opposed to just 87 yards on three completed passes through the air. Seniors Isaac Lopez (113 yards, 2 TDs) and Tautua Ou (108 yards, TD) have been the top two backs for the Loggers.

Archie Williams (1-2, #82 NCS) at Seaside (0-3, #58 CCS), 7 p.m., Seaside

The Peregrine Falcons are slotted below the Spartans in the state rankings but could have a chance to pick up a win against a team that has struggled to score all season. Seaside hasn’t scored more than eight points in a game this year and is coming off what is surely a scorigami – a 35-4 loss to Ann Sobrato with the scoring coming from a pair of safeties. Archie Williams is coming off a 41-14 loss against Northgate last week.

Bye weeks

• Terra Linda (0-3, #87 NCS). Next: vs. Lowell, Sept. 27.
• San Rafael (2-1, #50 NCS). Next: vs. Healdsburg, Sept. 26.
• Branson (1-2). Next: at South Fork, Sept. 26.
• Tomales (2-1). Next: at Calistoga, Sept. 26.