Dominic Mancuso's Pick Sends San Marin To NCS Finals

NOVATO, CA — Dominic Mancuso was getting challenged all night, but San Marin’s undersized defensive back got the last laugh.

Mancuso’s interception with just under two minutes left in the game secured a 26-25 North Coast Section Division V playoff semifinal victory over St. Bernard of Eureka.

“Best moment of my football career tonight,” Mancuso tweeted along with a video of the play that may have saved his team’s season.

“On to the NCS Championship with my teammates!”

San Marin’s fourth straight win sends the top-seeded Mustangs to the NCS championship game. San Marin is scheduled to host No. 2 Del Norte of Crescent City Friday at 7 p.m.

Del Norte (10-1) has won 10 straight since losing its Aug. 27 season opener. The Warriors are coming off a 42-13 victory over Miramonte of Orinda in Friday’s semifinal.

San Marin was clinging to a 26-25 lead with the Crusaders at their own 42 when Mancuso ran in front of a receiver and intercepted quarterback Drew Sisemore’s deep pass on third-and-12.

San Marin’s 5-foot-9 defensive back came up with the ball at the San Marin 18, sending teammates into a frenzied celebration.

“The whole game they were going after me, trying to take advantage of my size,” Mancuso told The Marin Independent Journal.

“I wanted to make something happen. I knew they were going to want go for a big pass again, so I played back a little bit and it worked out.”

San Marin quarterback Joey Cook threw for 120 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and Joey Guin rushed for 134 yards and one touchdown on 29 carries.

Guin has rushed for 1,923 yards and 29 touchdowns. The 5-foot-11 190-pound junior topped triple digits in rushing for a sixth straight game. He’s rushed for at least 100 yards in all but one of San Marin’s 12 games.

Sisemore threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions and rushed for 49 yards to lead No. 4 St. Bernard (7-5).