Prep football roundup: Tam falls in thriller against Casa Grande

The Tam High football team battled Casa Grande tough for the second consecutive year but the Gauchos scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute for a 34-28 victory in Mill Valley on Saturday.

Quarterback Henry Tuttle threw his third touchdown pass of the game, finding Tim Ural for his second score early in the fourth quarter to give Tam (2-6, 2-2 Redwood Empire Valley) a 28-19 lead.

Casa Grande (4-4, 3-0) pulled within a score with just under six minutes to play then took the lead after scoring with 50 seconds left.

Tam had a last-ditch possession to try and retake the lead, making it just across midfield before Casa Grande intercepted a pass in the red zone with about 20 seconds to play.

Tam scored three times in the first half — a rushing touchdown by Miles Kelsey and receiving touchdowns by Cole Kramlich and Ural.

Will Hess had an interception for Tam, which needs to win one of its final two games to become eligible for the North Coast Section playoffs. The Red-tailed Hawks were in the same situation last year, losing to Petaluma then beating Napa to become playoff eligible. Both of those games will be Friday night road games this season.

Redwood 45, Justin-Siena 0

Giants quarterback Cash Ward shared the wealth on Friday night with touchdown passes to three different receivers: Rudy Vasquez, Dylan McGrath and Will D’Amario-McShane.

Finn Reilly ran for a pair of Redwood touchdowns, while Riley Ulin rushed for another touchdown. William Suko kicked a 35-yard field goal.

Redwood’s offense is enjoying the spotlight as the Giants (5-4, 3-2 Valley) have outscored its last two opponents 87-0 combined. The Giants secured their eligibility for the North Coast Section playoffs with the requisite three league wins and five total wins.

Redwood has a bye next week then faces league frontrunner American Canyon in the regular-season finale.

Terra Linda 12, Piner 0

Bo Jordan threw touchdowns to DeMaree Byrd and Santi Frias as the Trojans secured their second consecutive victory by shutting out the Prospectors on Saturday.

TL (2-2, 2-6 Mountain) grabbed a 6-0 lead in the second quarter when Jordan found Byrd on a slant route and a 20-yard touchdown. Jordan’s touchdown to Frias gave Tl a 12-0 lead late in the third quarter. The Trojans got the ball back in the fourth quarter and kept the ball for 10 minutes to secure the victory.

Coach Joe Ayoob praised the performance of his defense, including lineman Arturo Gomez, plus Anthony Amato and Jake Melniczek in the secondary. Amato had an interception for the second consecutive game and Melniczek delivered some big hits to break up would-be completed passes for Piner.

TL has a game Thursday night at Sonoma Valley before closing the season by hosting the Bell Game against San Rafael on Nov. 8

Sonoma Valley 57, Archie Williams 21

Quarterback Ronan Foley found Sam Kaplan for a touchdown to pull the Peregrine Falcons within 27-21 at the half before the Dragons pulled away with 30 unanswered points in the second half Saturday.

Archie Williams (4-4, 2-2 Mountain) tied the game 14-14 in the first quarter by Sonoma Valley (7-1, 4-0) moved in front on a pair of rushing touchdowns by Cayden Waldrop.

Archie Williams needs one win in its final two games to become playoff eligible. The Peregrine Falcons could be favored to win both games on the road against Healdsburg then Piner.

Branson 56, Cornerstone Christian 28

Bulls quarterback Colby Buxton ran for five touchdowns and threw scoring passes to Spencer Weinberg and Danny Carlson on Thursday night. Eli Carlson also ran for a touchdown for the Bulls (4-4, 2-1 NCL-II).

The Cougars, trailing by 14 in the fourth quarter, were threatening with a first-and-goal at the 1, but were stopped cold by the Branson defense. The Bulls are scheduled to host Swett on Nov. 1.