San Rafael High takes a 3-0 record to Vallejo on Friday, Sept. 25, to face Bethel at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 39 in the North Coast Section, are averaging nearly 33 points per game after moving up from the fourth-tier Redwood Empire Conference (REC) Mountain division to the third-tier Bay division this season. They earned that promotion by finishing second in the Mountain last year, and head coach Casey Sully has embraced the step up.

"We set a goal of earning a promotion into the next league up and we're proud to have accomplished that," Sully told the Marin Independent Journal in August. "Now the challenge is here and we can't be afraid of it."

Bethel (1-3, No. 93 NCS) has struggled to score. The Jaguars have managed just 22 points across four games, with a season-high 16 in a 16-14 win over Pinole Valley. Their other three outings were blowout losses to Las Lomas, Benicia and Heritage, according to the Marin IJ's Week 4 preview capsules.

San Rafael's offense has been far more productive, though the Bulldogs were held to a season-low 13 points in a shutout win over Kennedy of Fremont in Week 2 before a bye in Week 3. Senior quarterback Freddy Yah, who replaced 2025 REC Mountain Offensive Player of the Year Lachlan Royston, led the Bulldogs to a 27-18 Bell Game win over Terra Linda on Aug. 28 to open the season. Senior running back Rio Johnson, a first-team all-league pick last season, and senior receivers Casey Earnest and Will Healy give Yah weapons on the outside, with junior Thomas Hellyer adding versatility at receiver and tight end.

After Bethel, San Rafael hosts Hercules on Oct. 2 before opening Bay division league play at Santa Rosa on Oct. 9 or 10. The league slate includes home games against Tamalpais on Oct. 16 and Napa on Oct. 23 or 24, a trip to Sonoma Valley on Oct. 30 or 31, and a season-finale home matchup against Analy on Nov. 6. Analy is the Bay division favorite, according to the same Marin IJ preview.

Terra Linda hosts Archie Williams in Mountain opener

Across town, Terra Linda (3-1, No. 51 NCS) hosts Archie Williams (2-1, No. 61 NCS) at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in the REC Mountain division opener for both teams.

The Trojans enter as the Mountain division's top-ranked team according to MaxPreps computer ratings, but Archie Williams has won both previous Mountain matchups: 34-19 in 2025 and 32-13 in 2024. Terra Linda won the final MCAL meeting between the programs 41-7 in 2023. Much of Archie Williams' rushing damage last year came from graduated quarterback Ronan Foley, who ran for 107 yards and two scores; the team totaled 258 yards on 26 carries in that game.

This season, Peregrine Falcons running back Nate Ryan has piled up a team-high 425 rushing yards and five touchdowns through three games.

Terra Linda counters with its own ground game. Senior Jake Rehfeldt has been running behind a strong offensive line all season. The passing attack found its rhythm in a 30-15 win over Lowell in Week 3, when quarterback Bo Jordan threw four touchdowns, three of them to receiver Santi Frias.

"We can be a good team. We can play with anyone in our league," Terra Linda head coach Joe Ayoob said after the Bell Game loss to San Rafael in late August.

After the Sept. 26 opener, Terra Linda has a bye the week of Oct. 2 or 3 before hosting Montgomery on Oct. 10.