San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Co-Players of Year led state champs
San Marin’s Guin and Marin Catholic’s Ingrassia share top honors after standout football seasons
For two seniors without scholarship offers and playing in a league not normally celebrated for football, Marin Catholic-Kentfield quarterback Michael Ingrassia and San Marin-Novato two-way standout Justin Guin did better than all right for themselves this season.
Guin finished fourth in the state in rushing (2,359 yards) and was third in touchdown runs (36), while Ingrassia polished off a stellar four-year career — three as a starter — by accounting for 3,547 yards and 49 touchdowns.
But even with those impressive stats, neither has garnered an FBS offer. They do have, however, something perhaps more treasured and long lasting: state championships. And now they can add some individual acclaim: Guin and Ingrassia are The Chronicle’s Co-Metro Players of the Year.
Ingrassia accounted for three touchdowns and his Wildcats won the 4-AA state title Dec. 11 with a 33-14 victory over visiting Central Valley Christian-Visalia. A few hours later, Guin rushed for 118 yards, scored twice and had four tackles for loss from his safety spot as San Marin defeated visiting Independence Bakersfield 20-14 for the 5-AA crown.
In winning the first state football titles in school and Marin County Athletic League history, both teams finished 14-1.
Marin Catholic had lost two previous state championship games, the last 38-35 in the 2012 to Madison-San Diego when Jared Goff quarterbacked his final game for the Wildcats. It was about then, Ingrassia said, that he envisioned himself going to Marin Catholic.
Ingrassia made sure his finale was never in doubt, throwing early TD passes to JR Bosch and Charles Williams. A keeper for another score and pick-sixes from Charlie Knapp and Zach Taylor gave the Wildcats a 33-0 lead.
“This has been a dream since I was in youth football,” Ingrassia said after the game. “My dream was to someday come to Marin Catholic and win a state championship, and that’s just what happened.”
As the only starter back on offense from a 5-0 spring team, it took some extra work for the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder. But as a third-year starter, Ingrassia was up for the task. In addition to his passing stats, he rushed for 656 yards and 13 scores. He finished 31-3 as a starter.
“The kid was incredible,” Marin Catholic coach Mazi Moayed said. “He has been his whole career. But to be the lone returner on offense, that’s a lot to manage. He was virtually flawless.”
Unlike Marin Catholic, San Marin had never come close to a state title. It helping the Mustangs win their first North Coast Section title since 2001, Guin rushed for 149 yards and three TDs in a 36-0 win over Del Norte-Crescent City. The next week, San Marin collected the program’s first Northern California title by going on the road to beat Sutter 35-7 behind Guin’s 168 yards, two touchdowns and a pick-six.
Coach Dominic DiMare thinks Guin might be better on defense than offense. Guin supported that belief by knocking away Independence’s fourth-down pass to seal the state-title win. He finished with 97 tackles (11 for loss), 12 passes deflected, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
“Justin Guin is unbelievable,” DiMare said after the state title game. “He’s the workhorse of this team. He leads by example, and like I’ve said from Day 1, he’s got the heart of a lion.”
Guin also was a model of consistency, rushing for at least 100 yards in 14 of 15 games. The game in which he didn’t? He had five carries for 98 yards and three touchdowns in a 53-7 win over Terra Linda-San Rafael. Three times he topped 200 yards, his high game of 274 (and three scores) coming in a 36-26 win over Tamalpais-Mill Valley.
“He also returns punts and kicks,” DiMare said. “He never leaves the field.”
DiMare, a Marin Catholic graduate, said he was proud to see both the Wildcats and San Marin win state titles the same day. Even prouder to see Guin and Ingrassia share The Chronicle’s top honor.
“I think it says a lot about the MCAL,” he said. “To have two state champions and two Bay Area players of the year is pretty good.”
Moayed agreed.
“Big congratulations to both young men. Amazing young men, amazing seasons, amazing accomplishment.”