Prep football: Novato’s defense seals narrow win over San Rafael

The Hornets defense stepped up when it mattered most and forced a turnover on downs at their own 29-yard line, ending a potential game-winning drive for the Bulldogs and capping their season with a thrilling 18-12 victory at San Rafael High.

As San Rafael marched down the field with the clock ticking down in its season finale on Friday, Novato coach Amil Hall had a terrible bout of déjà vu.

He had seen this situation play out before, just two weeks prior in the Hornets’ loss to Terra Linda on a last-minute Hail Mary. This time, his Hornets were clinging to a one-score lead and doing everything they could to slow down the Bulldogs, who aimed to once again to send the Hornets packing with a heartbreaking loss.

But this time, Novato would not go home disappointed.

The Hornets defense stepped up when it mattered most and forced a turnover on downs at its own 29-yard line, ending a potential game-winning drive for the Bulldogs and capping their season with a thrilling 18-12 victory at San Rafael High.

“That loss to Terra Linda was huge. Things didn’t roll our way,” said Hall, filling in for head coach Rich Torres, who was absent for Friday’s game. “… Thirty-three years of doing this and that was probably my hardest loss. Sitting on the sidelines, fourth down, and they throw it up in the end zone and get it. It was definitely tough. So tonight was big. These guys earned it. They went out and played hard. They earned the victory tonight.”

Novato, which finished the abbreviated 2021 season with a 2-2 record, jumped out to an 18-0 lead before San Rafael (1-4) made it close with a few timely scores. Sophomore Samaje Featherstone ran for 83 of his game-high 88 yards and both his scores in the first half. His touchdown runs came on carries of 25 and 18 yards, respectively, and bookended a 40-yard field goal from kicker Jose Martinez.

San Rafael answered back just before the half on a Danny Dunn one-yard keeper that made it 18-6. But the biggest play of the night for San Rafael came midway through the third, when Jack Healy stopped a promising Novato drive in its tracks with a 92-yard pick six that made it 18-12.

Prior to the pick, Novato was looking like it was going to put the finishing touches on a sound and thorough win.

The Hornets had opened the second half by putting together their best offensive drive of the game, highlighted by a 44-yard completion from Jakob Peterson to Kai Patel, a sophomore who had a game-high 78 receiving yards on three catches. But Peterson’s next throw was read perfectly by Healy, who stepped in front of a Novato receiver, snatched Peterson’s pass out of the air and ran untouched into the Hornets’ end zone. All the momentum shifted on that play and San Rafael’s sideline roared back to life.

From there, the game became a defensive struggle, with neither team yielding an inch. Every run was met by multiple defenders, every pass contested from all angles. After Healy’s interception, the two teams had three possessions apiece before their final drives of the fourth quarter. Only 32 yards of offense were gained over those six possessions and the teams combined for five punts and an interception over that span.

The contest saw four forced turnovers total, two for each team. Martinez and Dylan Burness each had interceptions while San Rafael also recovered a Novato fumble to go along with Healy’s pick-six.

The Hornets’ final offensive possession of the game began with 8:33 on the clock at their own 20. They made it all the way down to the Bulldogs’ 37 before turning the ball over on downs, failing to convert on fourth and two with just under three minutes left.

The Bulldogs crossed midfield with 1:30 left on the clock thanks to a pass interference call that moved them from the 50 down to the Hornets’ 33. But they wouldn’t get much further. A four-yard completion on second down would be the final yardage they’d gain as the Hornets, determined not to go home as last-minute losers again, forced three incompletions to get the ball back with just 30 seconds to go.

“I’m disappointed, for the seniors especially, their last game,” said San Rafael head coach Mark Lubamersky. “I don’t think we played a game this year to our full capabilities and for that it’s a little disappointing and I wish we had proven ourselves a little better in this last game. Taking nothing from Novato, they played well.”

Hall had nothing but respect for the Bulldogs and the effort they put forward on Friday night.

“San Rafael played a heck of a game tonight,” he said. “My hat’s off to them. Nothing you can say about their effort. They didn’t give up, they fought hard and you can attribute that to Mark. He’s done a fantastic job down here, he really has.”

Both teams are young and optimistic for the future. San Rafael had greatly increased numbers this year and Lubamerksy felt the program took a step in the right direction this spring. Hall said he feels the same way about the Hornets, especially considering they graduate only four seniors and relied heavily on underclassmen this season.

While it may be some time before either team is back in the mix for an MCAL title, that fact didn’t matter much on Friday night. The two teams had just completed a football season that less than three months ago appeared unlikely to even happen.

Records and scores aside, Friday night could be viewed as a win for both sides.

Novato 18, San Rafael 12

MCAL

Novato 11 7 0 0 – 18

San Rafael 0 6 6 0 – 12

SCORING SUMMARY

N—Featherstone 25 run (Burness run)

N — Martinez 40 field goal

N — Featherstone 18 run (Martinez kick)

SR — Dunn 1 run (pass failed)

SR — Healy 92 interception (pass failed)

Individual statistics

RUSHING – San Rafael, Ferreri 14-55, Dunn 2-4, Pocock 1-3, Hernandez 2-1, Grant 3-1, Healy 1-(minus-9). Totals: 24-52. Novato, Featherstone 14-88, Hill 15-50, Peterson 4-7, Patel 2-6, Flores 1-1, Moreno 3-0, Burness 1-(minus-2). Totals: 40-150.

PASSING – San Rafael, Dunn 4-11-1 47, Grant 4-14-1 32, Pocock 1-1-0 9. Totals: 9-26-2 88. Novato, Peterson 4-6-1 79, Moreno 3-7-0 44. Totals: 7-13-1 123.

Receiving – San Rafael, Dunn 3-40, Davidson 2-33, Pocock 3-11, Ecobar 1-4. Totals: 9-88. Novato, Patel 3-78, Hill 2-35, Martinez 1-13, Featherstone 1-(minus-3). Totals 7-123.

Records: Novato 2-2, San Rafael 1-4.