Saturday’s NCS Division 4 final: Newman, Marin in clash of titans

If you believe the high school sports information website MaxPreps, Cardinal Newman has a better chance to win the North Coast Section Division 4 football title today.

On the other hand, if the section honchos’ seedings are correct, Marin Catholic - ranked No. 1 to Newman’s No. 2 - the Wildcats will take the crown.

So, The Press Democrat consulted a third source for the tie-breaker: Justin-Siena High School football coach Rich Cotruvo, whose Braves were the only team to play both schools this year.

“It should be a very close game,” Cotruvo predicted. “I don’t think it will be more than three to six points difference.”

Yes, coach, but who will win? Who is better?

“Honestly, I really don’t know,” he said. “They’re very equal in every aspect.”

Surely there must be something, coach?

“It will come down to whose defense can stop whose offense, and turnovers. Either one can win the game,” he said.

So, now it’s clear. Not.

But what everyone agrees on, including Newman coach Paul Cronin and Marin Catholic coach Mazi Moayed, is that today’s 7 p.m. title game at Rancho Cotate will be hard-fought and competitive. No one will run away with anything.

Both teams have impressive quarterbacks and strong rushing games. Both have dynamic playmakers who can break out an explosive run or catch-and-run.

When the coaches talk about the teams being equal, the numbers back it up. Newman is ranked 94th in the state, compared to Marin Catholic’s 99. Newman is ranked No. 1,134 in the nation, to Marin’s No. 1,207.

It stands to reason that the two top-seeded teams meeting in the championship game would yield a close contest.

“I can see a 21-14 game, or 42-35,” Cronin said. “It could depend on special teams and how many big plays are avoided or gotten by either team.”

Newman quarterback Jordon Brookshire and running back Michael Ortola are the Cardinals’ top threats, providing viable options on the ground and in the air on virtually every play.

Brookshire is averaging 142 yards in the air, completing 115 of 166 pass attempts. He has thrown for 22 touchdowns in 12 games and only been picked off four times.

On the ground, Brookshire has rushed for 1,374 yards and 19 TDs.

In 13 games, Ortola has scored 20 rushing touchdowns and averages almost 8 yards a carry.

Brookshire’s Marin counterpart, quarterback Darius Peterson, similarly leads his team in the air and on the ground.

Peterson averages 168 passing yards a game on 125 of 210 passes for 2,013 total yards. He has thrown for 19 TDs and been intercepted just three times in 12 games.

On 106 carries, Peterson has gained 936 yards, an average of nearly 9 per touch. He has run for another 20 touchdowns.

“He’s an athlete,” Cronin said of Peterson. “He’s very scary because he can run the ball so well and can throw a good ball. It takes 11 guys defensively to be in the right spot. You can’t be out of position because he can score on any play.”

Marin Catholic’s defense may key on Newman’s favored Brookshire-to-Damian Wallace combo, which has resulted in 16 touchdowns this year. Wallace averages more than 17 yards per catch.

“They have a couple of good guys in their receiving corps, Wallace in particular,” Moayed said. “They make a lot of big plays. It’ll be a challenge for our defense.”

Newman hopes to win the line of scrimmage with solid O and D lines led by Kaulana Ako, Reed Palmer, Jamon Roberts and Spencer Almy, all seniors.

“Our strength is in our line,” Cronin said. “These are older guys who have been with us for two or three years and take a lot of pride in their work, offensively and defensively. They put in the work. They are the reason we’re so successful.”

They will face Marin Catholic’s hefty linebacker corps, which boasts 14 players over 210 pounds, led by two-time All-State lineman Clayton Demski at 6-3 and 304 pounds.

“They have plenty of size, too,” Moayed said. “We played a sloppy game against a good Moreau team (which Marin won 31-27). We can’t make the same level of mistakes against Cardinal Newman. We’ve got to play good clean football, good defense and protect the ball.”

Cronin, who called Moayed a good friend, said both teams may spend the first quarter feeling each other out and adjusting on the fly.

“They’re very structured,” Cronin said. “You like playing really structured, good teams because you have a good feel for what they’re going to do. But because they are good and structured, you have to win some battles. I’m really excited about Saturday night.”

You can reach Lori A. Carter at 521-5470 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.