Peter Dunbar
Marina High football coach Mark Rehling calls Peter Dunbar a
‘consistent, intelligent player who like to get in on the action.’
Well, Dunbar certainly got into the mix of things last Friday, his
defensive play keying a 20-3 Sunset League victory over Fountain Valley.
For the record, the Independent’s Player of the Week came up with
eight tackles, two quarterback sacks, and caused an incomplete pass.
But perhaps the highlight of an already big evening was Dunbar’s
interception off a deflected pass late in the fourth quarter, which wiped
out one, last Fountain Valley comeback attempt and preserved a rare
victory over the Barons.
It was the first varsity interception of the senior outside
linebacker’s career.
‘I just love to go out on the field and hit people - that’s what I
like to do best,’ explained the 6-foot-4, 195 Dunbar. ‘After I get my
first tackle, I just want more, and I think I get better as a game goes
won. I was just really excited about getting my first interception.’
Now in his third year at the varsity level (his first was spent on
special teams), Dunbar has been part of a feeding frenzy the Marina
defense has enjoyed the past two weeks.
One of his best friends, fellow outside linebacker Kyle Warren,
was the Independent’s Player of the Week last week after a strong
performance against Edison. Now, it’s Dunbar’s turn after wreaking havoc
on Fountain Valley.
‘All of us have really become a close family on defense,’ Dunbar
said. ‘We’ve been coming out really fired up for Edison and Fountain
Valley, and we plan to continue to play the same way these final three
games. It’s nice when one guy can pick up the slack if another of your
teammates is struggling. Someone on our defense always seems to step up.’
With wins over both the Chargers and Barons, Marina stands at 2-0
and is only one of two teams unbeaten in Sunset League play. Yet, despite
those key victories, Dunbar and the Vikings are looking for more.
‘I really don’t think we’ve gotten a lot of respect,’ he said.
‘We’re a good football team, and the way we can earn that respect is to
continue to play at the level we’ve been playing at these past two weeks.
My goal is to go undefeated in league, and make the playoffs.’
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