Prep football: San Marin’s unbeaten start stretches to four games

The San Marin High football team unleashed some real horsepower for their home opener before Friday’s game, then the Mustangs showed their power on the field during a convincing victory to stretch their undefeated streak to four games.

“We came on the field for our first home game and the kids really showed up,” San Marin head coach Dom DiMare said. “They played as a family, played together. We played fast. We built momentum.”

Starting quarterback Nick Rolovich made it an early night Friday, leading San Marin High to a 45-3 domination of Casa Grande. Rolovich, who earned a rest early in the second half, was efficient with the ball, going 7 of 11 for 158 yards and three touchdowns, while carrying the ball eight times for 82 yards and two more scores.

“Rolovich is something else,” DiMare said. “He’s got a great, great group of receivers behind him and our sophomore running back (Freddy Reier) is, believe it not, not even our starting running back.”

Grant Means caught four passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns for San Marin, while Reier powered the ground assault with 10 carries for 64 hard-earned yards.

San Marin wraps up its non-league schedule next week against Ukiah, before opening Adobe League play against Marin Catholic on Oct. 10 in Kentfield.

“That’s what we’re prepping for,” DiMare said. “We’re healthy, finally. So this was a good game for us.”

With a horse and rider on the sidelines before the game and the cheerleaders in cowboy boots, the San Marin fans were embracing the full western theme for Friday’s home opener.

Casa Grande coach John Antonio wanted to stack his team’s non-league calendar with some of the toughest competition he could find in Northern California, so he wasted no time in scheduling a rematch with San Marin. The Mustangs edged the Gauchos, 39-37, in a thriller last year.

“We want to play the tough teams. That’s how you get better,” said Antonio, whose winless Gauchos have played three teams ranked in the top 20 in the North Coast Section and four teams in the top 200 in the state. “We might be 0-4, but we are the most battle-tested 0-4 team in the area.”

San Marin scored early and often, including twice within 2 minutes in the first quarter. Rolovich got the Mustangs rolling with a 37-yard gallop through the Casa Grande defense for his first touchdown of the night.

After San Marin’s defense forced a three-and-out, the Mustangs needed just four plays to cover 62 yards on their second scoring drive. Rolovich launched a 37-yard strike to Ezekial Gomez on third down. Then Rolovich, dancing in the backfield looking for his receiver, found Means on the run with a line drive throw for a 30-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead.

Senior linebacker Luke Saysette’s interception cut short Casa Grande’s next drive and gave San Marin the ball at the Gauchos’ 24. On third down, sophomore Nico Garbarino caught a lucky bounce as he was able to reel in Rolovich’s 11-yard pass while falling in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter.

Garbarino nearly had a second touchdown, but came up 1 yard shy on a 31-yard reception in double-coverage in the second quarter. Rolovich sneaked the ball across the goal line for the touchdown for a 31-3 Mustangs lead just before halftime.

Means fought for a 34-yard touchdown reception to open the second half for a 35-point Mustangs lead. After that, San Marin called up the reserves.

Backup quarterback Joey Engler’s 34-yard toss to an open Joe Whelan set up one more San Marin score. After Nicolas Campbell pushed the ball down to the goal line, Engler finished the job with a 1-yard keeper to end the third quarter.

San Marin 45, Casa Grande 3

Non-league

Casa Grande 3 0 0 0 — 3

San Marin 21 10 14 0 — 45

SCORING SUMMARY

CG — Morin 30 FG

SM — Rolovich 37 run (Mandelbrot kick)

SM — Means 30 pass from Rolovich (Mandelbrot kick)

SM — Garbarino 11 pass from Rolovich (Mandelbrot kick)

SM — Mandelbrot 40 FG

SM — Rolovich 1 run (Mandelbrot kick)

SM — Means 34 pass from Rolovich (Mandelbrot kick)

SM — Engler 1 run (Mandelbrot kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — CG, Curley 9-17, Cetoute 7-10, Garibaldi 1-1. Totals 17-28. SM, Rolovich 8-82, Reier 10-64, Campbell 5-25, Vincent 2-5, Gomez 2-3, Engler 3-2. Totals 30-181.

PASSING — CG, Cetoute 3-17-1 74. Sacks 1-(-11). Totals 3-17-1 63. SM, Rolovich 7-11-0 158, Engler 1-1-0 34. Totals 8-12-0 192.

RECEIVING — CG, Curley 1-34, Comma 1-3, Metzler 1-37. Totals 3-74. SM, Means, 4-79, Garbarino 2-42, Gomez 1-37, Whelan 1-34. Totals 8-192.

Records — San Marin 4-0, Casa Grande 0-4.