In short: Cardinal Newman Cardinals high school football (Santa Rosa, CA), 2026 season: 7-2 in the Redwood Empire - Adobe League. Last game: W 42-7 vs St. Vincent De Paul on October 31, 2026. Next: vs Windsor, November 6, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
The battle on the ground could decide Cardinal Newman's next game, against Windsor, and the recent returns favor Cardinal Newman. Cardinal Newman averaged 3.1 yards per carry (306 yards on 99 rushes) over its first 3 games (1-2), #88 in Section in that timeframe. In the 6 games since that slow start (6-0), the Cardinals have averaged 8.6 yards per carry (1,247 yards on 145 rushes), a 178% rise, #14 in Section in that window. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Cardinal Newman's last 6 opponents have averaged 6.0 yards per carry, a #57 run defense in Section on the season, against 3.4 yards per carry, #5 for the first 3. Measured against those opponents' norms (6.0 yards per carry), Cardinal Newman ran for 42% more per carry than those run defenses usually allow. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 6 opponents average a rating that would rank #30 in Section, well below the first 3 (#2), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. Meanwhile, Windsor's run defense has been middle of the pack in recent weeks. The Jaguars have allowed 5.9 yards per carry (840 yards on 143 rushes) over their last 6 games (5-1), #48 in Section during that time. Those games came against a middle-of-the-pack set of rushing attacks in Section (6.1 yards per carry on the season, which would rank #46). Overall, those opponents average an SP Strength Index rating that would rank #26 in Section, a strong slate. Windsor offers Cardinal Newman a fair measuring stick for whether the trend is real.
The number to watch when Cardinal Newman meets Windsor is Cardinal Newman's scoring. Cardinal Newman averaged 17.0 points per game over its first 3 games (1-2), #73 in Section through those games. In the 6 games since that slow start (6-0), the Cardinals have averaged 40.0 points per game, a 135% rise, #9 in Section through that stretch. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Cardinal Newman's last 6 opponents have averaged 26.7 points per game, a #71 scoring defense in Section on the season, against 16.0 points per game, #24 for the first 3. Measured against those opponents' norms (26.7 points per game), Cardinal Newman scored 50% more than those defenses usually allow. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 6 opponents average a rating that would rank #30 in Section, well below the first 3 (#2), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. Meanwhile, Windsor's defense has been middle of the pack in recent weeks. The Jaguars have allowed 24.2 points per game over their last 6 games (5-1), #50 in Section over that stretch. Those games came against a middle-of-the-pack set of offenses in Section (26.7 points per game on the season, which would rank #48). Against those norms, Windsor held those offenses 9% below what they usually score. Overall, those opponents average an SP Strength Index rating that would rank #26 in Section, a strong slate. Windsor offers Cardinal Newman a fair measuring stick for whether the trend is real. Cardinal Newman is 7-0 this season when it scores 20 or more, and 0-2 when it doesn't.
NOTES
Cardinal Newman's passing game looks worse on paper, but one afternoon is doing a lot of the work. Cardinal Newman averaged 7.5 yards per pass attempt (921 yards on 123 attempts) on the season, #51 in Section, but that number is dragged down by a 20-yard game on 21 attempts against ScorePirate CIF North Coast Section #1 De La Salle on 9/4. In all other games, Cardinal Newman is at 8.8 yards per pass attempt (901 yards on 102 attempts), a figure that would rank #28 in Section. It came against one of Section's better pass defenses (De La Salle: 6.4 yards per attempt, #21 of 110). Against Windsor, Cardinal Newman draws one of the better pass defenses (6.0 yards per attempt, #17), so expect something closer to the 8.8 version.
The biggest shift in Cardinal Newman's season has come in its offense. The Cardinals averaged 3.9 yards per play (600 yards on 155 snaps) over their first 3 games (1-2), #90 in Section within that period. In the 6 games since that slow start (6-0), Cardinal Newman has averaged 8.8 yards per play (1,874 yards on 212 snaps), a 128% rise, #20 in Section across those games. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Cardinal Newman's last 6 opponents have averaged 7.4 yards per play, a #75 defense in Section on the season, against 5.0 yards per play, #12 for the first 3. Measured against those opponents' norms (7.4 yards per play), Cardinal Newman gained 19% more per snap than those defenses usually allow. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 6 opponents average a rating that would rank #30 in Section, well below the first 3 (#2), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. On the season, the Cardinals rank #48 in Section in yards per play. That form gets a real test against Windsor, whose defense ranks #16 in Section (5.4 yards per play).
Few teams in Section have allowed fewer points over the last 4 games than Cardinal Newman. Cardinal Newman allowed 18.6 points per game over its first 5 games (3-2), #40 in Section during those games. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (4-0), the Cardinals have allowed 3.5 points per game, an 81% drop, #3 in Section during that period. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 26.3 points per game on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (25.7 points per game), Cardinal Newman held those offenses 86% below what they usually score. On the season, Cardinal Newman ranks #7 in Section in scoring defense. That form gets a real test against Windsor, whose offense ranks #18 in Section (35.6 points per game).
TIDBITS (13 found)
• Club Cardinal Newman has won 7 straight, and a win would make it 8 in a row. The last time they won 8 or more in a row was 2025, a run of 11.
• Club The last time Cardinal Newman went a game committing 3+ turnovers was November 25, 2023 against Marin Catholic (L, 3-24). Since then Cardinal Newman has gone 34 straight games committing fewer than 3 turnovers, a school-record 34 straight in the 5 seasons on record.
• Club The last time Cardinal Newman went a game throwing for 200+ yards was November 7, 2025 against Vintage (W, 56-0). Since then Cardinal Newman has gone 12 straight games being held under 200 passing yards, a school-record 12 straight in the 5 seasons on record.
• Club Cardinal Newman is 28-0 all time when averaging 7.0+ yards per play in the games on file (28 such games).
• Club Cardinal Newman is 34-1 all time when averaging 5.0+ yards per carry. Cardinal Newman's last loss when averaging 5.0+ yards per carry was November 4, 2022 against Windsor (L, 13-14).
• Club Cardinal Newman is 33-1 all time when rushing for 150+ yards. Cardinal Newman's last loss when rushing for 150+ yards was November 4, 2022 against Windsor (L, 13-14).
• Club Cardinal Newman is 22-0 all time when scoring 40+ points in the games on file (22 such games).
• Player James Curoso has gone 6 straight games rushing for 100+ yards, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player James Curoso has gone 6 straight games running for a touchdown, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Tanek Mair has 41 tackles over his last 5 games (8.2 a game, September 18, 2026 through October 23, 2026) -- his most in a 5-game stretch on record.
• Player L.t. Retamoza has gone 4 straight games throwing a touchdown pass, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Kordell Strane has never had a game recording 100+ receiving yards for Cardinal Newman, over a 29-game career on record. His career high is 65, set October 17, 2025 against Rancho Cotate (W, 14-3).
• Player Kordell Strane has gone 13 straight games without intercepting a pass. The last time he intercepted a pass was October 24, 2025 against San Marin (W, 17-0) — 1 interception.
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
Cardinal Newman has played one of the toughest schedules in the pool so far (#3 of 113), and what is left is one of the toughest slates (#7 of 102).
Schedule so far · 1 = hardest
#3 of 113
avg opponent rating 22.0 over 9 games · 5 vs top-25 CIF North Coast Section
Schedule ahead · 1 = hardest
#7 of 102
avg opponent rating 24.8 over 1 games · 1 vs top-25
@Folsom L 17-23@De La Sa… L 3-42Archbish… W 31-0@Clayton … W 45-7@Punahou W 22-21@San Marin W 40-0Marin Ca… W 28-7American… W 63-0St Vince… W 42-7Windsor
Each bar is one opponent, placed by where its rating ranks in this pool (tall and red = top 10; short and green = bottom half). Hatched bars are games still to play; the dashed line is today.
MILESTONE WATCH
Cardinal Newman
James Curoso needs 1 rushing touchdown for 20 (averaging 2.4 a game)
L. Retamoza needs 79 passing yards for 1,000 (averaging 115.1 a game)
Win chances are the site's own game projections where one is on file, otherwise the SP Strength Index gap with a small home edge. The realistic range covers 80% of outcomes (10th to 90th percentile).
Every player with a stat on file, listed only where he has one. Open the arrow beside a name for his game-by-game line. Stats through the Oct 23 game; last updated Oct 30; roster and numbers checked Oct 6.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
Redwood Empire - Adobe LEAGUE CHAMPION (5-0 in league)
2023
North Bay - Oak LEAGUE CHAMPION (4-1 in league)
2022
North Bay - Oak LEAGUE CHAMPION (3-2 in league)
Section and state results and Players of the Year: CIF-SS Record Book. League finishes judged from league schedules on file (2022-2025 seasons); earlier league titles are not on file.
WEEK WRAP-UP
Cardinal Newman beat St. Vincent De Paul 42-7 at home on Saturday, October 31, its 7th straight win.
In the 7-game winning streak it has forced 7.0 turnovers and given the ball away 6.0 times. Cardinal Newman is 7-2, #2 CIF North Coast Section. Up next: vs Windsor, Fri Nov 6.
PPG/OPP PPG use every played game on file. YPG/PLAYS-PER-GAME columns only ever come from games with a full box score on file, which can be a smaller sample than GP -- see the coverage note below when that's the case for this team.
Averages use only games with that number on file (offense 8/9, defense 4/9, sacks/INT 8/9, sacks allowed 4/9, turnovers 8/9 games). SACKS ALW comes from the opponent's box score; TO FORCED is takeaways; TO MAR is takeaways minus giveaways, and its bottom cell is the season total. Dashes mean not on file.
UNIT INDEX
Pass Offense: grade 57.6/100 (+2 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 83.9/100 (+85 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 98.2/100 (-128 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 95.5/100 (-128 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, adjusted for the opponents faced.
CN finished 2025 at 11-2. Made the playoffs (3 postseason game(s) on file; exact round/result not available). Notable win: 52-17 over ACALANES (ACALANES finished 92% that season). Toughest loss: 17-42 to PITTSBURG (25-point margin).
"N/A" stands in for a box score that does not have stats entered. A total followed by a count in parentheses covers only the games with that stat on file.
TALKING POINTS (15 storylines)
CN HAS PERFORMED BEST THIS DATA SET WHEN...
• CN holds its opponents under 6.0 yards per play (.905), and has won 2 straight when doing so
• CN holds its opponents under 100 rushing yards (.999), and has won 15 straight when doing so
• CN averages 5.0+ yards per carry (.999), and has won 19 straight when doing so
• CN rushes for 150+ yards (.999), and has won 19 straight when doing so
• CN's defense has averaged 44.0 pass yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 25-game average is 126.0 pass yards per game. (-65%)
• CN's defense has averaged 4.7 points allowed per game over their last 3 games. Their 34-game average is 11.7 points allowed per game. (-60%)
• CN's defense has averaged 0.8 takeaways per game over their last 5 games. Their 33-game average is 1.9 takeaways per game. (-60%)
• CN averages 6.0+ yards per play while committing zero giveaways
• CN's defense has averaged 2.9 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 25-game average is 5.9 YPA. (-50%)
• CN's offense has averaged 286.5 rush yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 33-game average is 191.5 rush yards per game. (+50%)
• CN's offense has averaged 44.3 points scored per game over their last 3 games. Their 34-game average is 31.2 points scored per game. (+42%)
• CN's defense has averaged 131.0 total yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 25-game average is 223.1 total yards per game. (-41%)
• CN's offense has averaged 9.9 YPC over their last 3 games. Their 33-game average is 7.1 YPC. (+39%)
• CN holds its opponents under 8.0 yards per attempt and under 5.0 yards per carry
• CN rushes for 189.0+ yards (CN's own median) (.999)
• CARDINAL NEWMAN has won by 20+ in 4 straight games (10/9/26–10/31/26). It has not reached 5 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• CARDINAL NEWMAN has scored 40+ in 2 straight games (10/23/26–10/31/26). It has not reached 3 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• CARDINAL NEWMAN has held the opponent under 14 in 4 straight games (10/9/26–10/31/26). It has not held the opponent under 14 in 5 straight since 10/18/24–11/22/24 (2024).
• CARDINAL NEWMAN has won 7 straight (9/11/26–10/31/26). It has not won 8 straight since 9/5/25–11/21/25 (2025). It has reached 8 straight 3 times in the last 4 years and has won a high of 11 straight (2025) in that span.
CN's defense has averaged 44.0 pass yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 25-game average is 126.0 pass yards per game. (-65%)
CN's defense has averaged 4.7 points allowed per game over their last 3 games. Their 34-game average is 11.7 points allowed per game. (-60%)
CN's defense has averaged 0.8 takeaways per game over their last 5 games. Their 33-game average is 1.9 takeaways per game. (-60%)
CN's defense has averaged 2.9 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 25-game average is 5.9 YPA. (-50%)
CN's defense has averaged 131.0 total yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 25-game average is 223.1 total yards per game. (-41%)
CN's defense has averaged 3.1 YPP over their last 3 games. Their 25-game average is 4.5 YPP. (-30%)
CN's defense has averaged 122.0 rush yards per game over their last 10 games. Their 25-game average is 97.2 rush yards per game. (+26%)
CN's defense has averaged 4.1 YPC over their last 10 games. Their 25-game average is 3.4 YPC. (+22%)
(moved to the Appendix, Data Export 1, to keep this section shorter -- the full spreadsheet-paste table is there unchanged)
APPENDIX
Full-length explanations and full-size data exports for the shortened notes and relocated tables referenced throughout this report, numbered in the order their pointers appear above.
Explanatory Notes
Note 1 -- SEASON OUTLOOK
Every remaining game is projected from schedule-adjusted ratings; already-played games carry their real result. Records are simulated distributions, not a single guess -- MOST LIKELY FINAL is the single most probable record and its own probability, PROJECTED RECORD is the season's expected win total expressed in record form (an average across every simulated outcome, so it can land on a fraction of a game).
Note 2 -- OPPONENT TRACKER -- why some cards have no record shown
Only meaningful for an opponent who is ALSO a tracked team in the library -- an opponent with no games on file here at all shows the date and site alone.
Note 3 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on how strong the number is and how much it sets this team apart from its opponent and the rest of the field, and the top 5 per team are listed. A condition needs at least 8 occurrences to count.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
CARDINAL NEWMAN (SANTA ROSA): OFFENSE VS DEFENSE, 2026
Where CARDINAL NEWMAN (SANTA ROSA) sits among 109 section teams on the two Unit Index composites -- Offense Grade 64.7, Defense Grade 94.4.
YARDS / PLAY: CARDINAL NEWMAN (SANTA ROSA) VS THE SECTION
CARDINAL NEWMAN (SANTA ROSA) ranks #77 of 81 section teams in yards per play (3.21) -- a weakness worth a look.
CARDINAL NEWMAN (SANTA ROSA): SP STRENGTH INDEX BY SEASON
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- 21.4 in 2022 to 26.7 in 2026.
These graphs were chosen by the program from this season's most notable numbers. Build your own -- any stat against any other, for any mix of teams, seasons or players, with a JPEG download -- in the Graph Builder.
