DIVISION III: Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 13-1 vs. Serra (Gardena) 14-0, noon Saturday
Robert Woods, Serra
Photo by Kirby Lee
Live TV: Comcast SportsNet California and Comcast SportsNet Plus
GameTracker: Click GAMETRACKER to follow each of the state championship bowl games.
Live radio/webcast: KBCSports.com will webcast all games and KFRC 1550 AM broadcast De La Salle-Crenshaw tilt.
Stadium ticket sales: $15 adult, $8 each for students, seniors and children.
Parking: $10 per vehicle.
Nike Football Coaches Clinic with Pete Caroll: Saturday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Home Depot Center (Agassi Pavilion), no registration fee, free Nike shirt and ticket to the games. Coaches only.
California High School Cheer and Dance Championships: Saturday at Home Depot Center Tennis Stadium, $15 adult admission ($8 student, senior, children) includes entrance to football games.
Other games: Small Schools, Modesto Christian (14-0) vs. Parker-San Diego (11-2), 4 p.m.; Division I, Bellarmine Prep-San Jose (11-1-1) vs. Oceanside (13-0), 8 p.m. Friday; Division II, Rocklin (14-0) vs. Servite-Anaheim (13-1), 4 p.m. Saturday; Open Division, De La Salle-Concord (12-2) vs. Crenshaw-Los Angeles (14-0), 8 p.m. Saturday.
FACTS AND STATS
Max Preps Rankings — Serra: National, No. 44; State, No. 6. Marin Catholic: National, No. 707; State, No. 81.
Notable Alums — Serra: Deon Figures (former Pittsburgh Steelers DB), Kris Richard (Seattle Seahawks, DB), Rocen Keeton (New York Jets, LB). Marin Catholic: Travis LaBoy (Arizona Cardinals, DE), Nick Rolovich (Las Vegas Gladiators, QB), Kahlil Bell (UCLA, Chicago Bears, RB), Brooke Smith (Stanford, WNBA).
Leading Rusher — Serra: Shaquille Richard (121-1,010-16 TD). Marin Catholic: Chris Adams (242-2,326-30 TD).
Leading Passer — Serra: Conner Preston (189-283-3,187-41 TD). Marin Catholic: Nate Kristoff (72-122-1,261-11).
Leading Receiver — Serra: Robert Woods (58-932-13 TD). Marin Catholic: Anthony Firenzi (19-272-2 TD).
Points per game (allowed): Serra 45.2 (12.7), Marin Catholic 36 (12.1).
CARSON, Calif. — Serra High School may be a surprise entrant in this year’s Division III state championship – except to anyone who watched the Cavaliers play this year.
Facing Oaks Christian in the Southern Section’s Northwest Division championship game, Serra stunned the nationally-ranked Lions 42-41 in overtime to qualify for the Division III state finals.
Serra’s trip toward its selection for the championship began with the transfer of junior quarterback Conner Preston from Palisades to the Gardena school prior to the start of the season.
Preston, who was a quarterback at Palisades the past two seasons, has emerged as one of the top junior quarterbacks on the West Coast, throwing for 3,187 yards and 41 touchdowns in leading the Cavaliers to a 14-0 record. He’s been blessed to throw to arguably the nation’s best trio of receivers.
Marin Catholic, meanwhile, started the season trying to figure out who would replace standout running back Nico Dumont, who had graduated and was redshirting at Cal. Turns out coach Ken Peralta didn’t have to look far.
Chris Adams quickly emerged as a more-than-adequate replacement. After rushing for 197 yards in the season opener, Adams added 283 yards in the second game. He heads into the state finals with 2,326 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns for a team that went 13-1 and defeated defending champion Encinal 27-0 for the North Coast Section Division III championship.
The Wildcats opened the year with a disheartening 29-28 loss to St. Ignatius before rattling off 13 straight wins.
SERRA OFFENSE/MARIN CATHOLIC DEFENSE
Does any team in the country have a more talented receiving trio than Serra? Woods is an All-American candidate and is in the running for the U.S. Army National Player of the Year award.
He has 58 catches for 932 yards and 13 scores and also had a key touchdown in the win over Oaks Christian. George Farmer is also a productive receiver with 40 catches for 881 yards and 12 scores while Paul Richardson, a transfer from Los Alamitos, has been perhaps the best third option in the state with 29 catches for 527 yards and six scores.
Scott Altenberg’s offense has gained 5,752 yards and has a 1,000-yard rusher to go along with the prolific passing attack. Shaquille Richard has gained 1,010 yards on 121 carries with 16 touchdowns while Domonique McGee adds 467 yards on 60 carries. The offensive line also has plenty of bulk with 10 players tipping the scales at over 250 pounds, led by returning all-league junior lineman Sione Veikoso (5-11, 270).
The Wildcats counter with a defense led by defensive linemen David Purcell (6-0, 240, DT) and Tony Popovich (6-3, 270, Jr., DT).
Popovich was all-league as a sophomore and has already drawn interest from Washington State and Cal. Although Adams was an all-league linebacker last year, he’s concentrated more on offense this year, opening the way for Andrew Traver (6-1, 190, LB) and sophomore Chris Trewhill (5-9, 160, DB). Don’t be surprised if Adams is given double duty on Saturday. He’s likely a strong safety in college.
MARIN CATHOLIC OFFENSE/SERRA DEFENSE
Without a doubt, the Wildcats like to run the football. Marin Catholic had six backs gain at least 200 yards on the season, led by Chris Adams, who has rushed for 2,326 yards on 242 carries with 30 touchdowns. As a team, the Wildcats have gained a whopping 4,505 yards on 540 carries.
The Wildcats run out of a double-wing formation but they are not afraid to throw the ball. Nate Kristoff is in his second year of running the Marin Catholic offense and has twice thrown for over 1,000 yards.
He enters Saturday’s game with 1,261 yards through the air (72-of-122) with 11 touchdowns. Kristoff likes to spread the ball around as four receivers have at least nine catches. Anthony Firenzi leads the way with 19 catches for 272 yards, followed by returning all-leaguer Kai Cortright with 15 catches for 197 yards and Tyler Scott with 11 receptions for 370 yards.
The Marin Catholic line packs some size, topped by junior tackle Mike Padovese (6-5, 305 pounds) and guard Ryan Lynch (6-1, 225).
The Cavaliers counter with a squadron of tackling machines, led by linebacker Josh Finau with 156 tackles and five sacks. Serra has five other players with 85 or more tackles, including LB Woodson Greer (129 tackles, 11 sacks), DE Sean Bacon (121, 17), DT David Maola (99, 12), DB Marquise Lee (85, 1) and DE Jason Gibson (85, 15).
Although the Wildcats throw the ball sparingly, Kristoff will have to beware of a ball-hawking secondary that has picked off 22 passes on the season, including eight by Woods.
EXTRA POINTS
Serra was 13-1 last year with its only loss coming against Oaks Christian in the Northwest Division finals…Marin Catholic lost to Encinal in the North Coast Section Division III semifinals last year but avenged the defeat this season.…Serra is the alma mater of a number of rap artists, including Montel Jordan, Ray J., Arabian Prince and Terrence Quaites…Woods finished third in the 400 meters at the state meet last year and anchored Serra’s gold medal-winning 400 relay team. Serra finished second in the overall team track standings.…Marin Catholic has also won North Coast Section championships in 1985, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998 and 2003.
