Cardinal Newman played suffocating defense in a 17-0 shutout of San Marin on Friday night in Novato to secure a seventh straight win and remain unbeaten in Redwood Empire Conference Adobe division play.

The Cardinals (7-1, 3-0 REC-Adobe) held the Mustangs (6-2, 1-2) to just 133 total yards, sacked San Jose State-bound quarterback Daniel Rolovich four times and picked him off twice. It’s the first time San Marin has been shut out since the COVID-shortened 2021 spring season and just second offensive shutout for the Mustangs since 2016.

How it happened

It was another slow start on offense for Cardinal Newman, but a few key plays swung the game.

The Cardinals got on the board with just under two minutes till half on a great find by quarterback Carmine Guevara. Facing fourth and six from San Marin’s 32, pressure forced him to scramble to his right and he threw up a deep pass toward the back corner of the end zone that was hauled in by receiver Jonah Bertoli to make it 7-0.Kordell Strane then picked off Rolovich on the Mustangs’ very first play of their ensuing drive, giving the Cardinals deep field position and a chance to add another score. However, the drive stalled out and Devon Taylor missed a 37-yard field goal attempt to send the game to the intermission at 7-0.

The Mustangs’ first possession of the second half looked promising after a few first-down scrambles from Rolovich got them into Newman territory, but consecutive sacks by the Cardinals’ defense forced them to punt, and Strane again came up big.

He fielded the punt at Newman’s 25-yard line, escaped a few tackles and broke free for a 75-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 with 4:40 left in the third quarter.

Bertoli then ended San Marin’s next possession with his second sack of the game to send things to the fourth quarter at 14-0.

Another long punt return for Strane got Newman deep into San Marin territory midway through the fourth and the field position resulted in more points for the visitors. Taylor drilled a 21-yard field goal to push the deficit to three scores with 1:57 to play.

San Marin waved the white flag and put its backups in for a short final drive.

Rolovich finished 9-for-21 with 97 yards and two picks with just three rushing yards, while Sam Marin’s standout running back Andrew Keehn was held to 18 rushing yards on 11 carries.

Cardinal Newman won with just 141 total yards — 107 passing from Guevara on 9-of-14 attempts but just 34 rushing yards. Malakai Pathoumnourack led the way on the ground with 17 yards on 12 carries, while Bertoli had three receptions for 49 yards with a score. Ka’Vaughn Penney also had an interception on defense. He and Strane each now have six on the year.

Key play

Strane’s punt return touchdown in the third felt like the deciding play. It was especially key since neither San Marin nor Newman was having much success offensively.

Quotable

“It was amazing. I was ecstatic. I saw the ball coming, I knew there was a guy coming but I knew I had to go get it. I got, shook off the first guy and after that I knew it was a wrap. Just had to make a few guys miss and took it to the house.” — Strane on his punt return touchdown.

“I’m super proud for my teammates. Saturday we got to get straight to work, that’s really all it is. Be happy tonight but Saturday we’re right back to it, grinding. I believe we’re going to do a great job the rest of the season. I believe we’re going to beat Marin Catholic.” — Strane

“He reminds me a lot of when I was at my former school (Mater Dei), of Josh Hunter. He was a four-year starter for me there, maybe a little bit undersized but savvy and smart, great athlete who can really do it all. He reminds me exactly of him. I think he’s probably one of the most underrated guys up in Northern California. He has been Mr. Consistent.” — Cardinal Newman head coach Frank McManus on Strane

“We are where we are. It’s exactly where we’re supposed to be, I would say. It’s the expectation of the school, it’s the expectation of our athletic department, it’s the expectation of our alumni. So I think we are where we need to be at the moment, but that doesn’t mean we can’t improve — but our preparation, like I’ve said over and over again, is going to be consistent in what we’ve been doing all year. We’re going to treat every game like it’s a CIF championship and we’re going to prep and play accordingly.” — McManus on how he feels about the team heading into the Marin Catholic game.

Takeaways

The Cardinals did enough to win, which is what good teams do, but struggled to move the ball for the second straight week.

Their 141 total yards are the second fewest they’ve had in a game all season and they averaged just 3.8 yards per play, also the second-lowest margin since their season opener against Grant.

Some credit does belong to San Marin’s defense, which held Newman’s run-heavy offense to a season-low 34 yards and was able to pressure Guevara, forcing him into some quick decisions. He connected when he needed to, but this is now the third time in the last four games that Newman has been held to under 20 points.

Conversely, Newman’s defense looks like it’s getting better and better.

The Cardinals have now allowed just one touchdown in their last 11 quarters played and held San Marin to a season low in total yards and shut out a team that entered this week averaging over 30 points per game.

Over the last two weeks, the Cardinals held Rancho Cotate to just 4.3 yards per play and San Marin to just 2.8 while recording six sacks and three interceptions.

More impressively, they’re having success at multiple levels. Their defensive line mauled San Marin and forced Rolovich to scramble over and over. He rarely had time in the pocket to throw, and when he did his receivers were blanketed by Newman’s defensive backs.

Since the season opener against Manteca, the Cardinals have allowed just 49 points on their current seven-game winning streak. That stretch includes two shutouts and four games allowing under 10 points.

The defense has been incredible, but if Newman wants to have a chance at beating a red-hot and battle-tested Marin Catholic team next week — or wants a shot at a deep playoff run — the offense needs to get something going.

Up next

San Marin will look to bounce back at Vintage (6-2, 1-2) next week, while Cardinal Newman will host red-hot Marin Catholic (4-4, 3-0) in a game that could very likely decide the REC-Adobe title.