Isaac Cruz’s Two Pick-Sixes Power Napa High Past Previously Unbeaten San Rafael, 41–13

Senior defensive back Isaac Cruz returned two third-quarter interceptions for touchdowns and senior linebacker Alan Alfaro helped shut down San Rafael's passing attack after the opening drive as Napa High spoiled the Bulldogs' undefeated season with a 41–13 Redwood Empire Conference-Bay Division victory Friday night in Marin County.

San Rafael (7–1, 2–1 REC-Bay), playing with junior quarterback Chris De Luna making his first start in place of injured senior starter Freddy Yah, struck first on the game's opening possession when De Luna connected with 6-foot-7 tight end Will Healy for a 40-yard touchdown pass and a 6–0 lead.

Grizzlies Seize Halftime Lead With Late Second-Quarter Drive

After Napa punted on its opening possession, Jeter Ruiz-Chavez's 51-yard punt and a penalty pinned San Rafael at its 12-yard line, and Alfaro broke up a fourth-down pass intended for Healy at the Napa 35.

Midway through the second quarter, Napa's Abram Alvarez scooped up a San Rafael fumble and returned it 46 yards to the Bulldogs' 13-yard line. Eryck Gualberto carried to the 8-yard line before scoring off left tackle behind a block from Dean Tahsler, and Ruiz-Chavez kicked the first of his five extra points to give Napa a 7–6 lead.

San Rafael answered with an 80-yard drive capped by Healy's 10-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone with 59.7 seconds remaining before halftime for a 13–7 Bulldogs lead. Napa immediately marched back downfield as Gualberto broke a 35-yard run to the San Rafael 28, Alvarez pushed to the 24, and Jax Knecht hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Jack Bottari in the right corner of the end zone to put the Grizzlies ahead 14–13 at the break.

27 Unanswered Second-Half Points and Two Cruz Pick-Sixes

Napa opened the third quarter with a 7-yard end-around touchdown run by Josiah Van Patten to make it 20–13 with 8:03 left in the period.

Just over a minute later, Cruz intercepted a De Luna pass and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 27–13. Later in the third quarter, Cruz jumped another pass and raced 74 yards for his second pick-six of the night, pushing the margin to 34–13.

Alvarez added Napa's final touchdown on a 1-yard run with 8:59 remaining in the fourth quarter after Gualberto forced a fumble that Fabricio Palafox recovered at midfield. Napa next travels to Sebastopol on Friday night to face undefeated Analy (8–0, 3–0 REC-Bay).

In other Napa County action Friday night, American Canyon fell 63–0 at North Coast Section No. 2 Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa and will visit Windsor (7–1, 2–1 REC-Adobe) on Friday, Oct. 30, while Calistoga lost 62–19 to Round Valley despite two touchdowns by sophomore Daniel Sandoval (including a 65-yard kickoff return and a 4-yard run) and a 23-yard touchdown reception by Armando Lopez from Gio Lopez.