Kick keeps St. Vincent winless

St. Vincent High School’s hopes for a first varsity football win (or at least non-loss) of the season were booted away in the final quarter Friday night in a 17-14 loss to San Rafael’s Bulldogs in their Marin County kennel.

St. Vincent had the game against their Marin County Athletic League foe tied at 14-14 until the Bulldogs’ Eric Noh connected on a 32-yard field goal just over five minutes from the finish. The kick decided a game that was pretty much even most of the night.

San Rafael scored early in the second quarter, capping an 11-play, 60-yard march with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Simon Wright to Noh.

With just six seconds until the half, St. Vincent’s George Sammon broke loose for a 21-yard touchdown run and Michael Gross’ kicked tied the game.

A blocked punt by Jake Farinha gave the Mustangs an opportunity to take the lead early in the fourth period, and they capitalized with a 3-yard run by Zach Sitchler.

San Rafael came back a bit later, completing a 45-yard, seven-play drive with a 7-yard run by Noh.

The teams struggled tied until Noh hit with his foot with 5:39 left. The Mustangs couldn’t answer.

Sammon had his, and the Mustangs’, best rushing game of the season, gaining 78 yards in 16 carries. As a team, St. Vincent rushed for 118 yards, with Sitchler adding 52,

Mustang quarterback Dominic Pederson was four of 12 passing for 46 yards with an interception. The majority of his yardage came on a 30-yard completion to Sitchler.

The interception was one of three turnovers for the Mustangs, who also lost two fumbles.

Defensively, St. Vincent played well, led by Sitchler with 12 tackles and Farinha with 10. Will Tarrant, Tyler Schmidt and Justin Sablik were each credited with seven tackles.

Alec Woodyatt and Tarrant each recovered a fumble.

The loss was the third straight for the Mustangs, the first time since 2006 they have opened a season with three defeats.