High School Football Game of the Week

With both Edison and Fountain Valley out of the way, the Marina

High Vikings can now place their sole attention on their oldest local

rival, Huntington Beach, whom the Vikings take on Friday in the

Independent’s Game of the Week.

You can throw out the records and just get down to playing

football when these two rivals hook up for their annual showdown, which

this year takes on an added dimension as Marina will be looking to remain

unbeaten in league play and spoil Huntington Beach’s homecoming

festivities at Cap Sheue Field.

To the winner of this game goes the spoils and in this case, it’s

the perpetual trophy that is presented to the victor at game’s end.

The Oilers have held on to the prized possession the past three

years.

But for Marina, the stakes are even higher: in addition to getting

the game trophy back, the Vikings can all but assure themselves of a

postseason playoff berth with a triumph Friday.

‘It’s been a while since we’ve beaten Huntington, and we’d like to

get that trophy back,’ Marina Coach Mark Rehling said. ‘If we can win

this game, then we can claim it back. And a win mathematically-speaking,

pretty much guarantees us a playoff spot.’

With both the Vikings and Oilers favoring the running game, the

outcome of this game could come down to defense.

And both Marina (4-2-1, 2-0) and Huntington Beach (4-3, 0-2)

feature fine defensive units.

‘We can’t afford any type of letdown because Huntington has too

good a defense,’ Rehling said. ‘They really attack to the ball and pose

problems to most runners.

‘One of our big keys will be trying to solve Huntington’s defense,

which is no easy task. They’ve held some good football teams in check and

haven’t given up that many points. Another thing is that we can’t afford

any lapses on defense, because they have a talented running game.’

Huntington Beach has allowed its first two league opponents

(Fountain Valley and Esperanza) an average of 17.5 points, while Marina

comes into the game having scored an average of 24 in its first two

league outings.

The Viking defense has been even stingier, allowing just 11.5

points per game.

Huntington Beach will be tested by Marina’s option game, which is

led by junior quarterback Beau Brown.

Brown burned Fountain Valley last week with a pair of long

touchdown runs on option keepers, and also damaged Edison the week

before.

In two league games, Brown has rushed for 283 yards and three

touchdowns.

When he’s not keeping the ball, Brown usually is handing off or

pitching to fullback Ray Mietkiewicz, who has rushed for 302 yards (6.1

average) and four touchdowns in two league games.

Mietkiewicz now has 1,018 yards on the season.

‘They do a real good job at running the option,’ Huntington Beach

Coach Tony Ciarelli said. ‘Both teams are playing well on defense, which

means that we’re going to need to move the ball a little bit more and put

some points on the scoreboard in order to be successful.’

In their two league losses, the Oilers have been held to a total

of six points. Huntington’s rushing attack features senior Shaun Shuck

and junior Russel Oschman, who has come on strongly in league play.

Oschman averaged 9.8 yards in 13 carries last week against a

strong Esperanza defensive unit.

‘Each week Russell is understanding a little bit more what his own

capabilities are,’ Ciarelli said. ‘When he’s not rushing, he’s blocking

for Shaun (Shuck). And it’s the other way around when Shaun’s not running

the ball. He (Shuck) is an unselfish player who always wants what’s best

for our team.’

With two league wins under its belt and rival Huntington Beach on

deck. Rehling says that Marina is focused.

‘The kids know that they are accomplishing so much,’ he added.

‘Our enthusiasm and confidence levels are way up right now, and I know

our guys will be fired up for the rivalry with Huntington Beach.’