Marin IJ Prep Football Players of the Year for 2023
Marin was treated to a number of big-time seasons from individual players and teams during the 2023 prep football campaign.
Marin Catholic claimed its second state title in three years behind a huge season from do-it-all standout Charles Williams.
San Marin made history by winning the MCAL championship, in part courtesy of a monster season from its quarterback combined with a gritty 10-6 road win against MC.
Tam also had one of its best seasons in recent memory, bolstered by a high-powered offense that saw three players produce eye-popping stat lines.
IJ Player of the Year, Charles Williams, Marin Catholic
Whether he lined up on offense, defense, or special teams, Williams truly did it all for MC. Williams scored touchdowns and impacted winning in all three phases of the game to help lead the Wildcats (14-1) to another state title.
Williams ran for 1,366 yards and scored 23 rushing touchdowns, adding 18 catches and another 417 yards and two scores as a receiver. Williams authored one of the signature plays of MC’s postseason as a runner in the NorCal Regional Bowl win against McClymonds, spinning away from multiple defenders behind the line of scrimmage then bolting 61 yards to give MC a 21-6 halftime lead.
Williams was perhaps even more valuable when he lined up at cornerback, routinely shadowing the other team’s top receivers. Williams, who is set to play corner for the University of Wyoming according to MC coach Mazi Moayed, picked off 11 passes this season and returned three of them for touchdowns. He was even better in the playoffs, picking off six passes in just five games.
As a returner on special teams, Williams added two more touchdowns on punt returns. All told, Williams accounted for 30 touchdowns and 2,888 all-purpose yards.
IJ/MCAL Offensive Player of the Year, Dominic Ingrassia, San Marin
The Mustangs’ signal caller elevated his game in every way imaginable during the 2023 season, leading San Marin to its first MCAL title in decades thanks to a victory against Marin Catholic.
Ingrassia completed 71.1% of his passes for 2,917 yards with 40 touchdowns against just two interceptions. Ingrassia also added another 198 yards and seven touchdowns as a runner as the Mustangs went unbeaten through the regular season before eventually falling to Acalanes in the North Coast Section Division IV title game.
Ingrassia threw at least five touchdowns in three different games, tossing a season-high six scoring passes in a victory against Capital Christian on Oct. 27. Ingrassia threw for a season-high 392 yards with five touchdowns against Foothill on Sept. 1.
Other standouts
The MCAL was loaded with talent at the skill spots this season. Tam quarterback Braden Young threw for 3,541 yards with 42 touchdowns against six picks as Tam finished third in the MCAL behind San Marin and Marin Catholic.
Between them, Ingrassia and Young helped Marin produce three 1,000-yard receivers this season. San Marin’s Wesley Timmel (1,121 yards, 17 TDs) and Tam’s Andrew Gordon (1.317 yards, 19 TDs) both put up astronomical numbers at wide receiver. Tam’s Lachlan Hindley, a tight end, also managed to top 1,000 yards this season.
Marin Catholic’s Peter Macaulay spent most of the season playing as a tight end but excelled at quarterback during the postseason and was integral during the Wildcats’ run to the state title.
While kicking falls more under special teams than offense, San Marin’s Lars Rau finished seventh in the league in scoring. Rau, a 4.5-star-rated kicker, made 54 extra points and four field goals while also being named as the top punter in the league.
Outside of the MCAL, Branson running back Jaden Sher was named the Co-MVP of the North Central II League after piling up 736 yards rushing, 625 yards receiving, and 17 total touchdowns.
In the North Bay – Redwood league, St Vincent’s Jack Davis, a Marin native, was named Co-MVP following a campaign that saw him compile 1,651 scrimmage yards and 29 touchdowns.
St. Vincent quarterback and Novato resident Gabe Casanovas was named Offensive Player of the Year with 2,600 passing yards with 36 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Casanovas added another 831 yards and 13 touchdowns as a runner.
IJ Defensive Players of the Year, Mario Crocitto and Zach Taylor, Marin Catholic
Crocitto and Taylor both netted major all-league honors as the MCAL selections for Lineman and Defensive Player of the year, respectively.
Crocitto was among the national leaders in sacks with a school-record 24.5 on the season, including four in the state title victory against Mayfair. Half of Crocitto’s 102 tackles were for losses.
Taylor, a linebacker who has committed to play at Bowdoin College next season, was a vital part of MC’s defense en route to the state title. Taylor piled up 132 tackles, 27 for loss, with four sacks and four interceptions. MC allowed just under 8.3 points per game this season and registered five shutouts.
Other standouts
San Marin’s defense, led by lineman Matt Giomi and linebacker Wesley Garton, was also ferocious this season. The Mustangs allowed just under 11.5 points per game with three shutouts.
Garton, a two-star recruit, had 101 tackles this season, including 36 for losses, with three sacks, four interceptions and three touchdowns.
Tam’s Jake Son, who lined up all over the field for the Red-tailed Hawks, had 72 tackles this year while being named one of the league’s first-team cornerbacks.