KENTFIELD, CA – The Saturday afternoon matchup between host Marin Catholic and Central Catholic of Modesto was another example of the hastily arranged covid-related contests made possible by the April 6 relaxation of guidelines for youth sports that allowed participation between teams from non-contiguous counties.
The teams met twice previously, both dominant wins for Central Catholic. However, on this day it was all Marin Catholic after the Prep2Prep North Coast Section No. 5 ranked Wildcats offense overpowered the visiting Raiders in a 45-10 victory.
In 2015 Marin Catholic travelled to Modesto to face Central Catholic in the one and only CIF Northern Regional Small School Open Division Bowl championship title game. The game wasn’t close as the Raiders were 49-14 winners. Looking to avenge the defeat Marin Catholic head coach Mazi Moayed scheduled Central Catholic to open the 2016 season, but once again they travelled to Modesto and the result was similar in a 42-16 defeat.
This time the game was going to be in the Wildcats house if it was going to happen. Prep2Prep Sac-Joaquin Section No. 12T Central Catholic had an open date but Marin Catholic had a game scheduled with Novato, so they really didn’t need the game. Novato reportedly wanted to play but acquiesced allowing Marin Catholic to play by all accounts what many football analysts in Northern California felt would be a highly competitive affair.
Central Catholic was missing a couple of starters due to spring break, including leading running back Jack Grisel, but head coach Roger Canepa refused to make excuses or elaborate on who else was missing, but whether Grisel’s or any of the others missing presence would have altered the outcome is highly unlikely.
The bottom line is Marin Catholic (4-0) dominated just about every aspect of the game, and it wasn’t just on offense where 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior quarterback Michael Ingrassia showed why he is one of the top Class of 2022 pro-style quarterback prospects in Northern California, and the hard-nosed running of 5-foot-10, 180-pound UC Davis-bound senior running back Matteo Perez, it started up front on the line of scrimmage.
San Jose State-bound 6-foot-2, 280-pound two-way lineman Kai Peterson-Davison played in his first game this season after nursing a tender knee. Another two-way lineman, senior Matthew Dierking, saw some brief action in last week’s win over Windsor, but this was his first start, and those two seniors were the only two returning starters on the line.
Ingrassia was 9 for 17 passing for 222 yards and three touchdowns with 207 of the yards and all three TDs coming in a first half that saw Marin Catholic take a commanding 35-3 lead.
Perez rushed for 78 yards on 12 carries and had three touchdowns with two coming in the first half.
“The biggest positive was getting a win against a quality opponent,” said Marin Catholic head coach Mazi Moayed. “I was pleased with our effort and execution.”
“About the only negative that comes to mind is a few dropped balls,” continued Moayed.
The hosts took the opening kickoff and after four plays Ingrassia found Matt Jacobson on a 70-yard TD pass in which the senior slotback turned on the jets and outran three defenders to paydirt. After the extra point missed left it was 6-0 Marin Catholic
After holding Central Catholic to a three and out deep in the visitors territory, the Raiders punter bobbled the snap but despite holding onto the ball Marin Catholic sophomore Will Clemons tackled him at the 1-yard line. On the very first play Perez scored on a 1-yard plunge and when Ingrassia connected with senior Geordie Aarsheim on a 2-point conversion Marin Catholic led 14-0.
Central Catholic looked game on its next drive but after moving the ball 68 yards in a whopping 17 plays, including converting five third down and one fourth down situations, the Raiders had to settle for a 29-yard field goal that cut it to a 14-3 deficit to end the first quarter.
The Wildcats came right back with a 6-play 80-yard drive that culminated in a 13-yard TD run by Perez to make it 21-3. But once again speed and the big play were the catalysts as the TD was set up by a 44-yard pass from Ingrassia to senior John Kreps.
From there both defenses stiffened. First Marin Catholic forced a punt, then Central Catholic held, and then Marin Catholic forced another punt, but then the game of punts came to an end.
The lead went to 28-3 pretty quick. Marin Catholic got the ball after the punt and on the first play Ingrassia showed some speed of his own after racing 35-yards on a keeper. On the next play he found senior Blake Wilson on a 20-yard TD pass.
The visitors didn’t fold but once again they just couldn’t get over the hump. Central Catholic took the kickoff from its own 25 and in 11 plays they had fourth and 1 at the Wildcats 27-yard line. They went for it but Petersen-Davison and company stuffed it for no gain and the ball went over on downs.
Once again Marin Catholic found the end zone, this time in a 9-play, 73-yard drive that culminated in a 24-yard TD pass from Ingrassia to senior Michael Jennings. The outcome had already pretty much been decided but a 35-3 halftime lead sealed the deal.
Perez scored on a second 1-yard plunge with 7:09 left in the third quarter before going to the sidelines. Senior kicker Jackson Horick added a 35-yard field goal to make it 45-3 after three quarters.
Central Catholic junior Victor Rivera scored on a 1-yard plunge with 11:06 left for the game’s final tally, but by then it had already done to a running clock and Moayed was trying to get everyone he could into the game.
He didn’t find the end zone but Kreps ended up as the leading receiver for Marin Catholic with three catches for 84 yards.
With Grisel out Canepa used several different running backs, but second-leading rusher Julian Lopez got the bulk of the work. The junior carried 21 times for an even 100 yards but couldn’t find the end zone.
“I wish we would have given you a better game,” Canepa told Moayed as the teams exchanged handshakes.
Central Catholic might not have played its best game but in this abbreviated season Marin Catholic looked to have its finest outing so far in four games and Ingrassia agreed.
“Our team was excited to play Central Catholic and I thought we played our best game so far,” Ingrassia said. “Coach Mazi was proud of our effort as a team. He said to enjoy the win, and we will look at the good and bad stuff on Monday.”
Although he didn’t really pass much after Marin Catholic built a 35-3 halftime lead, Ingrassia felt good about his overall performance. “I thought I did my job well and competed, it was a fun day.”
Marin Catholic now faces Redwood on the road in Larkspur this Saturday to close out the shortened season. Redwood (3-1) was a blowout winner of Drake-San Anselmo last Saturday.
