NCS Division IV: No. 2 Acalanes vs. No. 1 San Marin

Records: Acalanes 8-4; San Marin 12-0

 

Kickoff: Friday at Santa Rosa High School, 7 p.m.

 

Series history: The fifth meeting between the teams since 2010. Opened this season against one another, with San Marin winning 27-20. Acalanes won last year’s season opener against San Marin 21-14.

 

Storylines: Acalanes is seeking its first NCS championship and aiming to avenge the season-opening loss to San Marin. … Since ending the season with a heartbreaking 25-24 loss at home to Campolindo, Acalanes has breezed through the opening two rounds of the playoffs, routing Mt. Diablo 56-14 and Vallejo 56-20. … The Dons are 8-1 since a 0-3 start that included losses to San Ramon Valley and Amador Valley in addition to getting beat by San Marin. … Sully Bailey threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns against San Marin in August but completed only 38.1% of his attempts. … Dominic Ingrassia connected on 72.4% of his passes for San Marin in the first Acalanes game, throwing for a touchdown and running for another, as the Mustangs rallied in the second half after trailing 14-10 at halftime. … Anthony Scheppler was Ingrassia’s top target that night, catching 10 passes for 104 yards. … San Marin has won five NCS championships, including two in a row. The North Bay school also has captured back-to-back regional and state championships. 

 

Computer projection: Calpreps.com says San Marin prevails 28-27