MC opens season with win over San Marin
Wildcats score three times in second quarter to pull away from San Marin
Even in a world turned upside down by an interminable pandemic, some things never change.
Marin Catholic is still — and seemingly always will be — the apex predator in county-wide high school football.
The Wildcats opened an abbreviated five-game schedule by dusting off host San Marin 35-0 on Saturday in Novato, both teams playing for the first time in roughly 16 months.
“I told (the team) let’s just enjoy every moment of every game,” Marin Catholic coach Mazi Moayed said. “We’ve only got five
so we’ve got to make them count.”
The Wildcats certainly appeared to be savoring the sensation, especially junior quarterback Michael Ingrassia, who threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns.
“It’s so good to be back on the field,” said Ingrassia, who had scoring strikes of 19, 13 and 28
yards. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
As is the case most of the time when Marin Catholic is involved, much of the game’s drama was drained well before halftime as the Wildcats erupted for three second-quarter touchdowns and a 28-0 halftime lead.
“Considering we hadn’t played in so long, I thought the offense really executed well,” Ingrassia said. “The offensive line was solid and I have so many weapons to throw to, it makes things easier in every way.”
While long-striding wideout John Krepps was the star — seven catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns — Ingrassia was not shy about involving a long list of pass catchers.
Ingrassia hooked up with
eight different receivers and he kept his game vertical — 14 of his 22 completions were good for at least 15 yards.
“(Ingrassia) looked like a veteran in his first game of the season,” Moayed said. “He’s the sheriff out there.”
And there was no need for “the sheriff” to warm up his gun. He fired a bullet on MC’s first play from scrimmage, connecting with Krepps on a 49-yard streak down the right sideline.
The Wildcats were in the end zone for the first time since 2019 four plays later when Ingrassia zipped a quick-out to Krepps, who slipped a couple of tackles and strolled into the end zone.
San Marin, which moved the ball a bit on its first possession and secured a first down before eventually punting, hit a wall thereafter.
The Mustangs, overwhelmed by a speed-rush, four-man MC defensive line, failed to earn another first down for the remainder of the half.
In all, the Wildcats sacked two different San Marin quarterbacks six
times. The sack-attack was led by defensive end Charles McBride, who notched 2.5 sacks..
“The game was kind of what we expected considering we were playing for the first time in 16 months but of course that’s a tough
opener,” San Marin cocoach Cory Boyd said. “But honestly, we were just happy to be on the field.”
Boyd was not overly concerned about the rash of sacks allowed, and feels both of his quarterbacks, Jake Marshall and Joey Cook, will improve as the season progresses.
“They will undoubtedly get better,” Boyd said. “They don’t know how not to work hard.”
Marin Catholic’s major flaw in the opener was an abundance of penalties.
“The penalties — they hurt us and took points off the board,” Moayed said. “But penalties hurt you whether it’s the first game or the last.”
Most of Marin Catholic’s offense was focused on the passing game, but that’s not to say senior dynamo running back Matteo Perez did not make his presence felt.
Despite only six carries,
Perez led all rushers with 62 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a 33-yard score where he completely reversed field and somehow found his way to the end zone.