Marina on the run against Eisenhower

Marina High football coach Mark Rehling knows that his Vikings

aren’t expected by many to stay around too long for the CIF Southern

Section Division I postseason party, but that hasn’t stopped Rehling from

reveling in the thrill of reaching the playoffs.

“This is great stuff,” said Rehling, who will guide Marina in its first

postseason appearance in seven years tonight when the Vikings travel to

Rialto for a 7:30 p.m. clash with third-seeded Eisenhower.

“A playoff berth is the mark of success and even though we’re facing a

great football team in Eisenhower, we’re really, really excited about

being here. Normally, we’re turning in our gear this week, so, this is a

big event for the school.”

Marina’s return to the playoffs can be attributed to a senior class that

has worked hard to get there, despite what that it’s 5-4-1 record may

indicate otherwise.

The Vikings dropped close decisions to Upland, the third seed in Division

II, and playoff-bound teams in Mission Viejo (Division II), Esperanza

(Division I), and Sunset League champion Los Alamitos, which is seeded

fourth.

The tie came in the second week of the season against undefeated Newport

Harbor, the No. 2 seed in Division VI.

“We’ve been challenged by a very tough schedule, and I think, overall,

the kids responded well,” said Rehling, who had Marina on the brink of

its first league title in 13 years before regular season-ending losses to

Esperanza and Los Alamitos ended that dream. “A schedule like that should

prepare us for the playoffs.”

Marina’s success has come in the form of an option attack that is powered

by senior fullback Ray Mietkiewicz and junior quarterback Beau Brown, and

a defensive unit that has come into its own.

Mietkiewicz sat out the Upland game (a 24-17 loss) with a broken wrist,

but in nine appearances this season, the 6-1, 235 back has rushed for

1,679 yards - a school record, as well as an 8.1 yards per carry average.

Brown’s first year as a starting quarterback yielded 670 rushing yards

and a 6.9 average per carry.

But what has been Marina’s success in running the option has been its

downfall, too: 11 lost fumbles in the final two games of the regular

season were what did in the Vikings.

“There are two keys to this ball game,” Rehling said. “One, can we hold

on to the football? That, is the big question. And two, Eisenhower’s a

physical team, and will our defense be able to be physical enough to

handle their run? That, to me, is the ballgame, right there.”

The two teams are similar in that both favor the run, sprinkling in a

pass here, or there.

The Citrus Belt League champions (9-1) run a hybrid wing T, led by

running back Mario McDowell (6-0, 200) and backfield mate Donta Jackson.

McDowell has rushed for 1,288 yards and 21 touchdowns on 176 carries,

good for a 7.3 average, and Jackson has complimented him with 524 yards

and five touchdowns on 82 tries.

The Eagle defense, which is spearheaded by linebacker Donte Bowers, has

been suspect to the run. But there aren’t too many question marks

surrounding an Eisenhower team whose only loss came in the closing

seconds of a 20-19 defeat to Canyon Springs.

Eisenhower went 8-2 a year ago and was playoff bound, but the use of an

ineligible player forced the Eagles to forfeit all eight victories and

miss the playoffs.

Eisenhower won the 1993 CIF Division I championship by blasting Mater

Dei, 56-3.

In the Eagles’ last playoff appearance, the ’97 squad reached the

quarterfinal round.