Ray Mietkiewicz

Ray Mietkiewicz is back.

In a big way.

Fifteen days after suffering a break in his left wrist in a

September 16 tie with Newport Harbor High, the Marina fullback burst back

onto the football scene against Westminster last Friday, where he

proceeded to shred the Lion defense in a little more than three quarters

of play.

Mietkiewicz, still sporting a cast encased in foam, ran wild in a

performance that included 252 yards and four touchdowns in the 37th

meeting between the neighboring rivals.

Both are personal bests for the articulate, personable senior, the

Independent’s Player of the Week.

Perhaps the one play that signified Mietkiewicz’s triumphant

return most was his third touchdown run of the opening half, a 62-yard

romp that ended up giving Marina a 35-7 cushion at the half.

On the play, the 6-foot-1, 235 back burst up the middle, broke

free of a would-be ankle tackle at the Westminster 40-yard line, then

galloped untouched to the goal line.

As Mietkiewicz ran through the end zone, he lept ito the air, then

thrust a fist skyward, as if to say, ‘I’m back!’

‘I was just really, really excited at that point,’ Mietkiewicz

explained. ‘It had been a long two weeks, and I really didn’t know if I’d

be able to play football again. I didn’t break any big run against

Newport Harbor, and I felt my fumble late in that game cost us a chance

at a victory. I just wanted the chance to redeem myself.’

Redemption, for Mietkiewicz came in the form of four scoring runs,

which, in addition to his 62-yarder, covered 4, 8, and 84 yards.

On his 84-yard jaunt - Marina’s final score of the night,

Mietkiewicz broke clear at the line of scrimmage but needed Jason Stone’s

key block at the Westminster 30 to spring him free to the end zone.

Mietkiewicz, who missed last week’s game with Upland, said he knew

he’d be ready to play against Westminster two days prior to the game.

His only concern entering the ballgame, besides not being able to

shift the ball from hand to hand, was that he didn’t take too many reps

during pregame warm ups.

His first carry of the night netted four yards - but it was just a

warm up of things to come.

‘I felt good out there, and my wrist didn’t hurt at all,’ he said.

‘Afterwards, it didn’t even feel as though I played a football game.

‘I was glad to come back with a game like that. I want to have a

great senior year, and that means getting into the playoffs and maybe,

even winning a league championship. I’m looking forward to the rest of

the season.’