Prep football: Week 9 preview capsules for all Marin teams

The game of the year in the North Bay takes place as Marin Catholic travels to take on Cardinal Newman at 7 p.m. Friday.

Both teams are ranked inside the top five in the North Coast Section by MaxPreps. The winner is guaranteed at least a share of the Redwood Empire Adobe title.

MC, San Marin, Redwood, and San Rafael have already clinched eligibility for the postseason. Everyone else is still scrambling and face key games over the last two weeks that will determine their fates.

Thursday

Terra Linda (2-6, 2-2 – #94 NCS) at Sonoma Valley (7-1, 4-0 – #39 NCS), 7 p.m., Sonoma

Sonoma Valley has been mowing through everyone in the Redwood Empire Mountain since its inception last season – which means the Dragons will likely be promoted to the Bay or higher prior to next year.

The Dragons have outscored league opponents 194-54 this season and defeated the Trojans 49-7 in 2024.

TL is coming off back-to-back wins against Healdsburg and Piner. Sophomore QB Bo Jordan has thrown for six touchdowns in the past two games – three to Santi Frias, two to DeMaree Byrd, and one to Anthony Amato.

TL closes the season next weekend by hosting the annual Bell Game against crosstown rival San Rafael.

San Marin (6-2, 1-2 – #8 NCS) at Vintage (6-2, 1-2 – #16 NCS), 7 p.m., Napa

The Mustangs and the Crusaders battled in a torrential rainstorm last season. Vintage used a bruising ground game to grind out an 17-7 upset win at San Marin.

The Crusaders ran the ball 41 times against the Mustangs for 176 yards compared to just two pass attempts. To be fair, QB Blake Porter completed both of them for 42 yards.

The Mustangs trailed 14-0 at the half and 17-0 after three quarters so did not have the luxury of keeping the ball on the ground. San Marin ran the ball 18 times for 51 yards. QB Daniel Rolovich completed 12 of 24 passes for 107 yards with a touchdown to Joey Cipollina and two interceptions.

San Marin is already playoff eligible but is straddling the border between being in the Open Division and being in Division I. The Mustangs sit eighth with two games to play which would send them into a rematch from last year against No. 1 De La Salle.

Friday

Marin Catholic (4-4, 3-0 – #5 NCS) at Cardinal Newman (7-1, 3-0 – #3 NCS), 7 p.m., Santa Rosa

The two long-time rivals are set to battle over another title. MC defeated Cardinal Newman 13-3 last season en route to winning the league title. The Cardinals bounced back to win the NCS Open playoff meeting 20-7.

MC and Cardinal Newman were battling in NCS title games for most of the past decade before the introduction of the Open Division, which features the top eight teams in the section. Both teams are comfortably on track to make it back into the Open Division this season with a real possibility of another first-round meeting in a few weeks.

MC’s defense had five sacks and two interceptions – both by Chase Merrick – against Cardinal Newman in the league meeting last season.

MC started the NCS game with some good defensive momentum but the Cardinals flipped the script by going to a jumbo backfield with Kahlio Vaetoe as a lead blocker and occasional ball carrier.

Tam (2-6, 2-2 – #52 NCS) at Petaluma (5-3, 2-2 – #38 NCS), 7 p.m., Petaluma

The Red-tailed Hawks enter this game in the exact same position they were in last year – needing one win in the final two weeks to secure NCS playoff eligibility.

Tam ultimately fell 32-27 against Petaluma as the Trojans leaned on their vaunted rushing attack 44 yards for 203 yards and three touchdowns – all by Ryan Landry.

The Red-tailed Hawks dealt with some adversity in that game, losing then-QB Reed Edwards to an injury midway through the game. Tam coach Anthony Mejia put RB Ethan Koo in the wildcat formation for a bit before turning to Gus Beyer under center.

WR Timo Ural had five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown for Tam. Octavien Green had 84 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Weisberg added 70 yards and a touchdown.

Last year, Tam was able to clinch NCS eligibility with a 26-14 win against Napa in the season finale. The Red-tailed Hawks will have that same opportunity, this time on the road, should they fail to take down Petaluma.

Stone Ridge Christian (8-1 – #49 Sac-Joaquin) at San Rafael (6-2 – #50 NCS) , 7 p.m., San Rafael

The Bulldogs felt like they let one slip away last year in Merced, falling 10-9 after Stone Ridge Christian scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. San Rafael’s offense has leveled up significantly this season and will be looking to put way more points on the board.

QB Lachlan Royston has already thrown for 2,012 yards with 26 touchdowns against four interceptions. Royston has numerous options to throw to as San Rafael boasts six players with more than 196 receiving yards – led by Will Healy (55 yards, 11 TDs) and Jameson Fondnazio (453 yards, 8 TDs).

Stone Ridge Christian has found almost identical success through the air with QB Marcus Gray throwing for 2,019 yards with 24 touchdowns against five interceptions. The Knights’ offense funnels through RB/WR Daijon O’Neil, who has 43 catches for 1,225 yards and 10 touchdowns. O’Neil is also the team’s second-leading rusher with 443 yards and 11 touchdowns.

San Rafael limited O’Neil to four catches and 37 yards – with nine carries for 51 yards as a ball carrier – last season.

Archie Williams (4-4, 2-2 – #75 NCS) at Healdsburg (0-7, 0-4 – #98 NCS), 7 p.m., Healdsburg

The Peregrine Falcons are also one win away from playoff eligibility and have two winnable games left with Piner to follow in the season finale.

The NCS has changed the way brackets are filled out this season and there are five eligible teams with a lower ranking than Archie Williams that occupy a spot in the current projections. That being said, many more teams will become eligible in the final two weeks, dramatically shifting the playoff picture.

Last year’s meeting was a wild affair with the Peregrine Falcons prevailing 43-42 in overtime. Healdsburg scored first in overtime then Archie Williams coach Anthony Jackson opted to go for a two-point conversion and the win.

QB Ronan Foley threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns, adding 97 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground. RB Nate Ryan also ran for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Novato (3-5, 2-3 – #83 NCS) at Piner (1-7, 1-3 – #89 NCS), 7 p.m., Santa Rosa

The Hornets have to win this game to have any shot at the postseason but are ranked below all of the current teams in position to make it based on the current projections.

Piner won this matchup 36-6 last season but the Prospectors graduated an impressive senior class and have struggled mightily this season. QB Soso Prak, last season’s Redwood Empire Mountain offensive player of the year, threw for 2,575 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2024. The Prospectors only have 571 receiving yards through eight games this season.

The Hornets are coming off back-to-back blowout losses against the top two teams in the league – Sonoma Valley and San Rafael – but could be in position to finish strong with this game and non-league opponent Justin-Siena next week.

Saturday

Swett (4-4, 1-2) at Branson (4-4, 2-1 NCL II), 1 p.m., Ross

Only four teams can make the NCS D-I 8-Person playoffs but the Bulls are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the section behind Stuart Hall, Priory, and Tomales (a D-II team).

Sweet is ranked eighth in NCS and represents Branson’s best chance to get to five wins given they close the season against top-ranked Stuart Hall.

The Bulls won this matchup 60-6 last season, getting six passing touchdowns from then-senior QB Thomas Lardner. Then-senior Chase Hoeveler had 11 catches for 154 yards and three scores.

Bye weeks

Redwood (5-4, 2-1 – #42 NCS). Next up: vs. American Canyon, Nov. 8.

Tomales (7-1, 4-0). Next up: at Potter Valley, Nov. 7.