Marin Catholic’s offense stalls following loss to Cardinal Newman

The early indicators were all green light for the Marin Catholic High football team’s offense Saturday.

The Wildcats scored on the second snap of the game – a 61-yard jaunt by running back Jarred Geissberger – and racked up 111 yards of offense before the end of the first quarter.

And then Cardinal Newman put up a stop sign.

The Cardinals held the Wildcats to a total of 44 yards over the final three quarters and pulled away for a 20-7 victory in the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Kentfield.

The Cardinals (10-1) not only avenged a 13-3 loss in a regular-season game two weeks ago, but they also ended a four-game losing streak to Marin Catholic dating back to 2019 .

In fact, Marin Catholic had ended Cardinal Newman’s season in the NCS playoff finals each of the previous three years.

The Cardinals tasted some sweet revenge by closing the curtain on the Wildcats’ season Saturday.

“We just didn’t execute the offense,” MC wide receiver Jude Baker said. “They just outplayed us today and played at a higher level than us. They’re a great team and they have a great program.

In many ways, the game resembled this season’s previous meeting between the North Bay powers – especially early on.

The Wildcats scored early and played solid defense, just like they did in the regular season meeting.

But midway through the second quarter, the game took a drastic turn in Cardinal Newman’s favor.

The Cardinals put together a 14-play, 76-yard drive the rest of the half. Only a lost fumble – recovered by MC’s Colin Lovette – allowed the Wildcats to maintain their tenuous 7-0 lead at intermission.

Cardinal Newman received the opening kickoff in the second half and picked up right where he left off.

The Cardinals drove 60 yards in nine plays and ended a drought of more than six quarters without scoring a touchdown against the Wildcats when giant running back Kahlio Vaetoe carried would-be tacklers into the end zone on a rush. eight-yard touchdown.

Newman ties the game on the first drive of the third. 7-7. #marinfootball pic.twitter.com/jyjGFRVw0X

– Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) November 16, 2024

After the ensuing kickoff, the Wildcats scored three points on the second straight possession and Cardinal Newman’s suddenly unstoppable offense went on a 13-play drive that produced no points but ate up the rest of the game. third quarter.

After the teams traded punts, MC appeared poised to get its offense going again when quarterback Caedon Afsharipour – despite playing with a broken thumb heavily wrapped on his non-throwing hand – ran 24 meters.

But two plays later, the game took a final turn for the worse for MC when he lost a fumble deep in his own territory.

Four plays later, Cardinal Newman running back Brody Estrela shrugged off at least three defenders on a scramble up the middle and roared into the end zone from 13 yards out as the Cardinals took their first lead against the Wildcats this season .

Newman takes advantage of MC’s mistake. Lead 13-7 with 4:24 to play. PAT blocked. #marinfootball pic.twitter.com/yELyXM9Wna

– Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) November 16, 2024

With just over four minutes remaining, MC had one last opportunity to respond. But that wasn’t the case. Another lost fumble deep in its own territory closed the door on the Wildcats.

The Cardinals closed the door six plays later when Estrela scored his second touchdown on a nine-yard run with 49 seconds remaining.

The most glaring discrepancy in the second meeting in two weeks between the two teams was Cardinal Newman’s ability to run the ball.

After totaling 87 rushing yards two weeks ago, the Cardinals racked up 213 rushing yards on Saturday.

Additionally, MC’s passing game was almost absent.

The Wildcats, who gained 136 passing yards two weeks ago against CN, managed just 36 passing yards Saturday.

“We put the ball on the ground too many times and it seemed like we were in third-and-long situations almost every drive,” MC coach Mazi Moayed said. “But Cardinal Newman has a great defense and they have a lot to do with it.”

Cardinal Newman freshman quarterback Tino Retamoza, who had two interceptions two weeks ago against the Wildcats, did not throw any picks Saturday.

Cardinal Newman 20 years, Catholic Sailor 7 years

NCS Open/Division 1 Playoffs

Cardinal Newman 0 0 7 13 – 20

Sailor Catholic 7 0 0 0 – 7

RATING SUMMARY

MC – Geissberger 61 run (Carroll kick)

CN – Vaetoe run 8 (Gardner kick)

CN – Estrela Run 13 (blocked kick)

CN – Estrela Run 9 (Gardner kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – CN, Gentry 16-55, Retamoza 18-91, Estrela 8-50, Vaetoe 3-17. Totals: 45-213. MC, Geissberger 14-94, Conroy 2-10, Afsharipour 9-14, Serafin 1-1. Totals: 26-119.

PASSAGE – CN, Retamoza 13-18-0 60. MC, Afsharipour 3-8-1 36. Totals: 3-8-1 36.

RECEIVING – CN, Strain 3-18, Gentry 5-11, Cargill 2-6, Guevara 1-9, Bertoli 2-16. Totals: 13-60. MC, Rogers 2-28, Baker 1-8. Totals: 3-36.

Records – Cardinal Newman 10-1; Sailor Catholic 8-3.