St. Vincent de Paul’s running game carried the Mustangs past Palo Alto on Friday night to secure a state title shot. Marin residents Gabe Casanovas and Jack Davis combined to score three touchdowns in the win, clinching the Mustangs’ spot in the Division 6-AA state title game.
St. Vincent de Paul of Petaluma (11-2) is set to take on Wasco (9-5) in Southern California next week, although the time and location of the game are still to be determined.
Casanovas and Davis are two of 11 Marin players for St. Vincent de Paul, representing about one-third of the Mustangs roster.
Sophomore quarterback Casanovas, the offensive player of the year in the North Bay League, was effective as he completed seven of 11 passes for 69 yards, targeting Nico Antonini and Davis. But with the rain falling on the field at Casa Grande High in Petaluma, the Mustangs kept the ball on the ground for most of the game. So, Casanovas carried the ball 13 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which stood as the eventual game winner. Davis’ rushing touchdown in the second quarter gave the Mustangs a 21-13 lead.
St. Vincent sophomore Mason Caturegli ran 14 times for 103 yards and one touchdown.
St. Vincent led 28-20 going into the fourth quarter but Palo Alto scored a touchdown inside the final two minutes to pull within 28-26. A penalty nullified a two-point conversion that would have tied the game.
Antonini and Caturegli each had eight tackles for St. Vincent, while Davis had six and Jack Olyphant rang up four. The Mustangs broke through the Palo Alto line for four sacks, including two from Rob Rooks.
Palo Alto’s freshman quarterback Justin Fung threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns.
San Marin placed fifth with five medalists at Vintage High’s Jim Lanteman Classic on Saturday in Napa. Mustangs sophomore Jason Gurrola (120), senior Akio Suzuki (150) and senior Jordan Christensen (190) all placed second, while freshman Osuke Toshi (106) and senior Gideon Jacob (150) both placed third 106.
San Marin’s girls placed ninth at the Gaels Showdown, hosted by Dublin, where senior Lyla Kondrashoff (145) claimed first place. Mustangs junior Yuritzi Sanchez (155) and senior Sammie Briones (170) both finished fourth.
Sophomore Luke Miller (106) led the junior varsity Mustangs at the Deer Valley JV Duals in Antioch as he went 4-1. San Marin defeated Deer Valley in their dual meet.
Caroline O’Donnell, Sydney Middleton, Erin Taylor and Sarah Farese netted goals as Redwood (3-0-0) stayed unbeaten following a 4-0 win against Saratoga on Saturday.
• Tam was missing its starting back line in a 2-0 loss to Las Lomas on Saturday. Tam travels to Marin Academy for a game on Tuesday.
• Caroline Lozaw scored for Archie Williams as the Peregrine Falcons settled for a 1-1 draw against Ukiah on Saturday.
• Riley Pearson and Julia Myerberg scored two goals each as Branson rolled to a 6-0 win against Wood on Friday night. The Bulls (2-0-0) led 3-0 at the half on an own goal following a Tait Anderson corner, plus goals by Imogen Brown and Pearson. Myerberg got the next two goals and Pearson capped the scoring to make it 6-0. Audrey Spaly had two assists. Ally Hsieh and Brown had one assist each.
Tam opened its season with a hard-fought 1-0 home loss against Montgomery on Friday.
