Prep football: Tam overcomes penalties, turnovers to hold off late San Rafael rally

Whenever Tam High quarterback Braden Young made his calls at the line of scrimmage on Friday night, San Rafael coach Casey Sully responded with a call of his own, alerting the defense to what kind of play Tam was about to run.

“It almost felt like (Sully) knew what we were doing before it even happened,” Tam lineman Drew Bivens said.

Young made just enough plays against a defense that knew what was coming for much of the night. Young’s last completion of the night – a 29-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to Will Basnight with 5 minutes, 42 seconds left – eventually stood up as the game winner as Tam held on for a 14-12 win over the host Bulldogs.

“We played with some poor discipline and some poor effort,” Tam coach Matthew LemMon said. “A lot of calls didn’t go our way which I didn’t understand fully but we came out with a win.”

Last year, the Bulldogs hung with Tam for a half before the Red-tailed Hawks pulled away for a 42-6 win. Sully, then the offensive coordinator at Tam, made some adjustments in that game and San Rafael just couldn’t keep up.

This time around, the separation never came thanks to a number of factors. Sully and LemMon know each other so well and their offenses are so similar that both teams tried to play at warp speed to prevent the defense from adjusting to their line calls.

“When they know your calls though, it makes it really hard,” LemMon said. “He obviously changed a lot of calls when he came (to San Rafael) and I didn’t change as many so he was able to catch on to some things. Good on him, right? He caught me a couple times.”

Tam turned the ball over four times and committed a litany of penalties. The Red-tailed Hawks were called for encroachment seven times and committed a number of personal fouls that kept San Rafael drives going.

San Rafael made it into the red zone several times but came away empty handed on too many of those possessions. The Bulldogs went for it on fourth down at least a half-dozen times and usually only converted when a Tam penalty gave them a first down.

Tam held an 8-0 lead at halftime after Young connected with Andrew Gordon for a score early in the second quarter.

Young 32 to Gordon then again on 2 pt. 8-0 Tam early second. #marinfootball pic.twitter.com/YVFkRPm4D3

— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) September 24, 2022

San Rafael was driving for a tying score late in the first half but Tam’s Jake Son had an interception in the end zone with 3 seconds left to preserve the shutout.

Son with the end-zone pick for Tam. Still 8-0. #marinfootball pic.twitter.com/VWmPPD8Crp

— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) September 24, 2022

Despite Tam’s offensive dominance – Young had 203 passing yards at the half – it remained a one-score game. Once the game hit the fourth quarter, San Rafael mounted the type of late rally that has been its signature so far this season.

“I think it speaks to the characters of our players,” Sully said. “San Rafael hasn’t had success in long time but the kids have really bought in and believe. They’ve worked their butts off all season and the harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”

Tam punted to San Rafael with under 10 minutes left. O’Marion Beard was unable to come up with the catch cleanly and Tam pounced on the ball and appeared to be in business at midfield. A penalty against Tam wiped out the play and Beard promptly returned the ensuing punt for a touchdown.

“(Beard) has been a spark plug for us all year,” Sully said. “When we’ve needed big plays on offense, defense, or special teams, he’s stepped up.”

Tam fumbled on its next drive but came up with the recovery. Facing a third-and-7 on the next play, Young hit Son with a 20-yard pass that felt like a backbreaker for San Rafael at the time.

The Bulldogs’ defense stiffened but LemMon went for it on fourth-and-8 from San Rafael’s 29-yard line. Young hit Basnight in the corner of the end zone for a 14-6 lead.

Young to basnight on 4th down. Might be the backbreaker. 14-6 Tam. 5:42 left. #marinfootball pic.twitter.com/IyseD3gkAh

— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) September 24, 2022

San Rafael went three-and-out on its next drive but forced a quick stop and got the ball in great field position after a bad snap on Tam’s punt. Grant cashed in by hitting Beard for a 29-yard strike in the back of the end zone to make it 14-12.

My goodness. Beard td. 14-12. Pat to come. #marinfootball pic.twitter.com/jLWUQGnbJB

— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) September 24, 2022

“(Grant) made a great throw,” Sully said. “We called it earlier in the game. It was wide open but we didn’t hold up in pass protection.”

Tam got a pair of big plays from Son late to finally secure the win. Son broke a 21-yard run for a first down to help kill the clock.

“We went power right there,” Son said. “I saw 56 (Bryn Kramlich) come across and kick the end out perfectly and open up a hole and we were waiting for that to pop the whole game”

When San Rafael got the ball back with about a minute left, Son forced a fumble to finally put the game away.

SR got the ball back with a shot. Tam recovers fumble. Should put an end to it??? 14-12 Tam w ball 50 secs. #marinfootball pic.twitter.com/XA7wIdqYIG

— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) September 24, 2022

Young finished the game with 334 passing yards and found Gordon (130 yards) and Basnight (93 yards) for seven catches apiece. Son and Ryder Covey had interceptions for Tam and Caden Barringer recovered the fumble in the game’s final minute.

Grant had 144 passing yards for San Rafael, finding Beard six times for 95 yards. Oscar Jordan carried the ball 22 times for 65 yards. Harry Pocock caught five passes on offense and had two interceptions on defense. Bodhi Shipley recovered a fumble and Samuel Perez also had an interception.

“I feel like we should have won that game,” Grant said. “We had it in our grasp multiple times being down in the red zone, had multiple opportunities. As an offense, as a whole, we didn’t execute and that’s what what led to our loss.”

Tam 14, San Rafael 12

MCAL

Tam 0 8 0 6 – 14

San Rafael 0 0 0 12 – 12

SCORING SUMMARY

T–Gordon 32 pass from Young (Gordon pass from Young)

SR–Beard 50 punt return (pass failed)

T–Basnight 29 pass from Young (run failed)

SR–Beard 29 pass from Grant (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Tam, Son 8-22, Gordon 2-9, Koo 8-7, Castro-Vonk 2-5, Green 1-3, Young 4-(minus-3). Totals 25-41. SR, Jordan 22-65, Grant 6-25, Fernandez 1-0, #5 4-(minus-2). Totals 33-88.

PASSING–Tam, Young 24-38-3 334. SR, Grant 17-30-2 144. Sacks 5-(minus-61). Totals 17-30-2 83.

RECEIVING–Tam, Gordon 7-130, Basnight 7-93, Son 4-56, Hindley 5-54, Castro-Vink 1-1. Totals 24-334. SR, Beard 6-95, Pocock 5-25, Davidson 5-25, Jordan 1-(minus-1). Totals 17-144.

Records: Tam 1-3, 1-0 MCAL. San Rafael 2-2, 0-1.