Prep football roundup: Marin Catholic loses contact late against Acalanes

The Marin Catholic football team feel into an early hole against Acalanes but had clawed back within a score late in the third quarter of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoffs on Friday night.

Acalanes quarterback Tyler Winkles wasn’t about to let the Wildcats get any closer. Winkles scored three more touchdowns over the next 12 minutes, bringing his total for the game to seven, as the Dons pulled way for a 51-21 victory.

No. 4 Acalanes (11-0) advances to face No. 3 Cardinal Newman — a 21-14 winner in double overtime against San Marin — next week.

The Dons scored points on each of their first three possessions. Acalanes was up 14-0 when MC put together its first good drive of the game. Quarterback Dylan Skrinar hit Nick Brisbin on a long pass out to midfield then MC (5-6) dialed up a trick play.

Skrinar pitched the ball out wide to running back Jarred Geissberger, who was playing despite missing the previous two games with a foot injury. Geissberger threw a deep pass for Carter Matza for a 44-yard touchdown to pull MC within 14-6.

Winkles immediately responded with a touchdown to put Acalanes in front 21-6. Skrinar hit Matza for a 66-yard touchdown pass as MC pulled back within 21-14 following a two-point conversion.

Winkles added his fourth touchdown for a 28-14 lead and Acalanes threatened to score again before the half but Ian MacAulay intercepted a pass to help keep MC in the game.

MC backup quarterback Jamar Lincoln found Lucas Rotem for a touchdown pass late in the third quarter to cut the lead to 28-21 before Winkles’ late onslaught. Winkles, a junior, finished the game with five touchdown passes and a pair of touchdown runs.

Middletown 36, Archie Williams 7

The Peregrine Falcons (6-5), seeded No. 8 in the NCS D-VII playoffs, drew a tough assignment and lost against No. 1 seed Middletown. Archie Williams was making its first postseason appearance since 2021, when it lost 49-6 against Del Norte.