Taking its toll

Boy, have the last two weeks taken its toll on the Marina High School

Vikings.

A rousing 5-0 start to the season has been tempered by an 0-2

beginning in Sunset League play, and it doesn’t get any easier, what with

rival Edison High School awaiting at Huntington Beach High’s Sheue Field.

The Vikings will go into battle without starting quarterback Beau

Brown, who injured his shoulder during last week’s loss to Esperanza.

Brown’s injury has been officially termed a “Grade 1 sprain, or

contusion,” by Marina Coach Mike Dodd, who said his senior leader will

not only miss tonight’s game, but he is also questionable for the Nov. 3

matchup with Huntington Beach.

Brown is one of two team captains missing from the Marina lineup, the

other being Inoke Tukia, an all-league linebacker/tight end who remains

out of action because of a broken arm.

Tukia, Dodd said, will return for Marina’s regular season finale

against Fountain Valley.

In addition, defensive tackle Aaron Chase is out with an injury.

“We’ve been overwhelmed these past two weeks,” Dodd said. “Injuries

have begun to hit us really hard, and we haven’t helped matters by

turning the ball over, either. But, the kids are still fighting hard.”’

The Vikings, Dodd said, have turned the ball over 11 times in

consecutive lopsided losses to Los Alamitos and Esperanza.

Brown, a solid option quarterback, didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday,

and will be replaced by junior Tommy Ansel, who will make his first

career varsity start against Edison.

He’ll be backed by another Brown, Brett, who is a sophomore and the

younger brother of Beau.

“With the new faces, our offensive game plan will be very simple, and

we’ll have to guard the ball really well,” Dodd said. “Tommy does throw

the ball well, and we have confidence in him.”