Marin Catholic 35, McClymonds 28: Live update recap of CIF State Northern California championship
Charles Williams rushed for two touchdowns and intercepted two passes and quarterback Peter Macaulay accounts for three touchdowns as Marin Catholic held on for a 35-28 CIF Northern California 3-A championship home thriller over never-say-day McClymonds.
Playing desperately for their longtime coach Michael Peters, who announced before the season this would be his last, McClymonds fought back all day long and never led.
They got big play after big play to close the gap, but the resilient Wildcats (13-1) wouldn't fold.
A 7-yard touchdown keeper by Macaulay, a physical 6-2, 210-pound senior who also plays tight end, seemed to drive the dagger home with 5;15 left, to put the Wildcats up 35-21.
But McClymonds drove right down the field, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Redmani Albert with 1:51 remaining. Marin Catholic recovered the onside kick, but went 3-and-out.
With no timeouts, McClymonds had little chance taking over from its own 16. An interception on the game's final play set off a wild celebration.
Marin Catholic will play the winner of Mount Miguel and Mayfair for the state title on Dec. 9.
McClymonds was hoping to send retiring coach Peters out a winner but it was be a big challenge against a Marin Catholic squad led by two-way standout Williams, who entered with 1,200 rushing yards, 25 TDs, seven interceptions.
He scored on runs of 61 and 6 yards, both runs of the spectacular variety.
McClymonds, winners of four state and six regional crowns, was 3-0 against the Wildcats including 33-22 when the teams last met in 2021. Marin Catholic won.a state title in 2021 and taken now three regional crowns.
Follow our live updates below to keep tabs on this CIF Division 3-A Northern California regional title game, which is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1.
You can also watch this game live on the NFHS Network
FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES
- Marin Catholic earns a couple first downs, but McClymonds holds. Great punt to the Mack 5.
- Golden breaks a tackle for a 17-yard gain to the 22.
- Charles Williams to the rescue again, with his second interception (9th of the year). He also has two touchdown runs. MC takes over at midfield. 7:47 4Q. Marin Catholic leads 28-21.
- After PI, Williams converts third-and-long to the Mack 7.
MARIN CATHOLIC 35, MCCLYMONDS 21: Senior QB Peter Macaulay with 7-yard touchdown keeper, 5:15 4Q.
- McClymonds roaring right down field, no quit. First sustained drive of game, down to the MC 2. 2:13 4Q.
MARIN CATHOLIC 35, MCCLYMONDS 28. Albert 1-yard run on third down. Barely. Great effort. McClymonds still has life! 1:51 4Q.
- Marin Catholic gains eight yards but on 4th down and no timeouts for Mack, MC calls timeout 48 seconds. Will MC punt. Assuming so. That or try to draw Mack offside. punts.
- McClymonds takes over at own 16. 37 seconds left. No timeout.
- Last play is intercepted by Chase Merrick.
FINAL: Marin Catholic 35, McClymonds 28
THIRD QUARTER UPDATES
MARIN CATHOLIC 21, MCCLYMONDS 14: JaJuan Hudson picks up a failed pitch, rambles 53 yards for a touchdown. 2-point conversion from Espinosa to Troy Hill. We have a ball game. Marin Catholic was driving and seemingly in complete command.
MARIN CATHOLIC 28, MCCLYMONDS 14: Charles Williams responds again, with a spinning 4-yard touchdown run. Long touchdown run and great response to McClymonds' scoop-and-score. 2:47 2Q.
MARIN CATHOLIC 28, MCCLYMONDS 21: Mack isn't going away. Always big play away, this time Ta'Jir Golden with 65-yard touchdown sprint. 1:30. A great response of their own.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATES
MARIN CATHOLIC 14, MCCLYMONDS 0: Senior QB Peter Macaulay with a 4-yard kieeper for a touchdown, 10:14 2Q. A 45-yard bomb from Macaulay to Braiden Bachich-Dixon set up the score.
- Charles Williams with his eighth interception for Marin Catholic, sets up short field, but McClymonds holds, three-and-out. That was big. 9:10 2Q.
- After another 3-and-out for Mack, Marin Catholic fumbles, the Warriors recovers at the MC 32.
MARIN CATHOLIC 14, MCCLYMONDS 6: Redmani Albert 3-yard touchdown run after turnover. XP however glances off cross bar, no good. 5:25 2Q.
MARIN CATHOLIC 21, MCCLYMONDS 6: Charles Williams responds with nifty 61-yard touchdown run. Gives the Wildcats back all the momentum. 4:25 2Q.
- Big sack by Marin Catholic's Mario Crocitto all but ends the first half.
FIRST QUARTER UPDATES
MARIN CATHOLIC 7, MCCLYMONDS 0: After three three-and-outs, the Wildcats drive 60 yards capped with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Peter Macaulay to Braiden Bachich-Dixon. 4:55.
-
