NOVATO, Calif. - After a tight first half, visiting Moreau Catholic erupted for 28 third-quarter points on the way to a 48-29 win over San Marin Saturday afternoon.
Nikko Reed had a strong all-around game for the Mariners (1-1), accounting for four touchdowns and adding a game-clinching interception in the waning minutes of the game, to go with his six catches for 102 yards at receiver.
"We came together as a team and fought the hot weather and kept our energy up," said Moreau Catholic head coach Rob Gatrell.
The Mariners took control in the third quarter behind the running of senior Elijah Salazar-Alexander, who featured a dazzling 59-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory. After being tied 7-7 in the first half, Moreau Catholic ended the third quarter with a 35-22 advantage and pulled away with Salazar-Alexander's second score of the day.
With the loss, the Mustangs dropped to 1-1, a week after opening the season with a 28-6 win at Kelseyville.
"We want to work on our special teams, second team and get tougher for our upcoming games," said San Marin head coach Dominic Dimare.
One of the bright spots for the Mustangs was the play of running back Dante DiMare, who scored a pair of red-zone touchdowns. Junior Nico Lofrano also stood out for San Marin, returning two different kicks for touchdowns in a game that featured five touchdowns scored on kickoffs and punts. Lofrano's 64-yard punt return midway through the third quarter gave San Marin a 14-7 advantage, but it would be the final time that the hosts would lead, as Reed responded with an 82-yard kickoff return to tie the game, just like Nicolas Ledesma had returned a kickoff 92 yards for a score after the Mustangs had taken a 7-0 lead in the second quarter on DiMare's four-yard plunge.
Salazar-Alexander gave Moreau its first lead on his four-yard touchdown run, part of a 227-yard performance on the ground for the running back who is filling in for Fresh Ison. Ison is recovering from shoulder surgery right now, after terrorizing the San Marin defense for 408 yards in last year's playoff game. Moreau quarterback Bowen Dickstein connected with Reed for a 12-yard score on the Mariners' next drive, but Lofrano's 71-yard kick return temporarily cut back into the lead, just before the end of the third quarter, and DiMare's two-point conversion made it 28-22. The gap quickly widened before the end of third, however, when Dickstein found Reed for a 54-yard score.
San Marin did score one final time on another short run by DiMare, but Reed's punt return for a score with just over two minutes remaining and then his interception on defense sealed the victory.
The first half was a defensive struggle as Moreau Catholic brought the pressure behind senior Tyler Nettleman, who had two first-quarter sacks to stifle a San Marin drive.
San Marin takes on Casa Grande next week while Moreau Catholic takes on Salesian College Prep.
