On Nov. 26, 2021 under the lights, and with a sold out crowd of 1,900 fans watching, Varsity foot ball claimed the first North Coast Section (NCS) champion title for the first time in 20 years, beating Del Norte High School 36-0 in the Division 5 NCS final.
The team has an overall record of 12-1, previously beating Hercules High school 42-6 in the quarterfinals and St. Bernards High School 26-25 in the semifinals.
“It’s so euphoric that it almost doesn’t even feel real,” co-coach and Health teacher Cory Boyd who has coached the team for five years said. “The team has been super dialed in, they believed in each other and got the job done.”
Halfway through the first quarter, senior running back Justin Guin ran the ball 66 yards scoring the first touchdown, giving the Mustangs a 6-0 lead. San Marin scored four more touchdowns and one field goal, with strong defense preventing Del Norte from scoring in either half, and from completing any passes, while Mustang’s offense had 181 passing yards.
“Our whole defensive game was great, holding them to zero was a big part of the game,” senior and captain Justin Guin said.
“The best part of the game was right when it ended, the joy and happiness was overwhelming,” said senior and captain Dominic Mancuso. “We’ve been working for this for four years, some of us since youth football.”
Nathan Burger, fellow senior and captain, was recently named Marin County Athletic League’s (MCALs) defensive player of the year for Varsity football. “Nate is a player who has a lot of football knowledge and is really good at leading by example,” said Boyd. “He brings a lot of positive energy to the team and inspires his teammates with his tough style of play.”
2001 was the last time the MCAL championship was won by the San Marin varsity football team.
“We’ve worked so hard and it paid off, but we’re not done,” senior wide receiver Andy Garcia said.
Garcia received an MCAL All League honorable mention for his position as wide receiver.
