Marina stuns Edison

Edison High football coach Dave White has said all week that any

one of the six Sunset League teams was capable of beating the other.

Well, Friday night at Westminster High’s Bill Boswell Field, host

Marina proved White right as they used a strong option game and a

smothering defense to score a 28-20 upset victory over the previously

unbeaten Chargers on a festive homecoming night.

Marina Coach Mark Rehling choked back tears moments after the

game, calling the triumph “one of the greatest in this school’s football

history.”

Rehling had a point.

In 25 previous meetings between the schools, Marina had beaten

Edison just three times. Coupled with last year’s 26-14 victory, the

Vikings have now won two straight from their city rival - something they

haven’t done before.

“I’m going to cry, I’m so emotional right now,” Rehling said as he

composed himself at midfield, accepting congratulatory hugs and

handshakes from various well wishers. “This team just amazed me with the

performance they gave - and what an incredible way to open up the league

race.”

Rehling was even more impressed with the fashion in which the

Vikings were able to pull off their Sunset League opener, saying that the

team bounced back from last week’s disappointing 28-20 loss at Mission

Viejo by “doubling up” with extra intensity at practice this week.

“And the kids’ hard work really paid off,” he said. “They had

extra incentive coming into this game, knowing that Edison was unbeaten

and this was the first week of league play. They took it upon themselves

to have a great game...and they did.”

The Marina defense, in Rehling’s estimation, played its best game

of the season.

The Vikings (3-2-1) limited Edison running back Darryl Poston to a

season-low 105 yards - 39 of which came on the junior’s touchdown run

late in the third quarter. Poston’s carry around right end brought the

Chargers (5-1) to within 21-20 with 1:08 left in the period, but Matt

Rohn broke through to block Travis Wilson’s point after kick.

It was just one of many big defensive plays for the Vikings, who

were led by the enthusiastic play of senior outside linebacker Kyle

Warren.

Warren continually harassed Edison quarterback Richard Schwartz,

sacking him once. He also dropped Poston for a two-yard loss as the

Chargers threatened late in the game and on the same drive, pressured

Schwartz on a fourth-and-seven play from the Marina 47-yard line, then

deflected Schwartz’s pass attempt, which wobbled to the turf, and Marina

took over on downs with 1:08 to play.

After having a wild celebration along their sideline following

Warren’s knock down, the Vikings regained their composure and ran out the

clock.

“Our defense played such a tremendous game that I can’t think of a

better ending for them,” Rehling said. “That last stand capped a great,

great victory.”

With the Marina rush defense holding Poston in containment much of

the night, Charger receiver Brendon Cornell came up with a big game.

The 6-foot-2, 208 senior caught five passes for 152 yards and a

pair of touchdowns in the opening half alone. However, Cornell was

limited to one reception, which totaled nine yards, after the

intermission.

Marina’s star fullback, Ray Mietkiewicz, also had a banner night,

rushing for 191 yards on 20 carries, which included two touchdowns.

Mietkiewicz scored on a 38-yard run the first time he touched the

ball (on Marina’s second play from scrimmage) to give Marina a 6-0 lead,

then burst for a 29-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter as the

Vikings, who scored a two-point conversion on Turrill Engleman’s run,

regained the lead, 14-7.

Mietkiewicz’s second scoring run came less than two minutes after

Cornell had taken in a 48-yard scoring pass from Schwartz at the 11:06

mark of the period. But another Schwartz-to-Cornell touchdown pass, this

one covering 53 yards midway through the quarter, brought the Chargers

even at 14-14 at the half.

Marina junior quarterback Beau Brown also had an outstanding

rushing game as he finished with 116 yards on 11 attempts running out of

the option. It was his 25-yard touchdown run on Marina’s impressive

76-yard drive to start the second half that gave the Vikings for good,

21-14.

After Edison had closed the gap to 21-20 after three quarters of

play, Mietkiewicz scored on a six-yard run to give the Vikings a 28-20

cushion with 9:14 to play.