Vikings have their chance

To be sure, it’s been a tough year for the Marina High football team.

The Vikings have been outscored, 243-79, in their seven games. In their first two Sunset League games, they’ve been outscored, 108-7.

Yet tonight at Valencia High, they feel like they have a chance to do something they haven’t done since 2004: win a league game.

Marina (1-6, 0-2) faces Esperanza (3-4, 0-2), another team looking for its first league win.

“As coaches, we feel like we match up with them very, very well,” Marina Coach Dan Petrone said.

The Vikings haven’t won a league game since they topped Huntington Beach in 2004, 24-14. The Oilers are coming back to the Sunset League next year.

Marina almost accomplished the task last year against Esperanza before falling in overtime, 17-14.

The problem has typically been depth. It was exemplified at Monday’s practice, where Petrone said three offensive linemen were missing. One had a concussion, one was at home with the flu and one was out with torn ligaments in his thumb.

“I think when you look at our situation, in the history of Marina Viking football, only about 30% of the seasons are winning seasons, if that,” Petrone said. “The teams we’re facing are far deeper than we are. You look at our loss to Los Al, we can’t even compete with them size-wise. Their offensive line is 270, 280 [pounds]. Our kids are good kids, they fight as hard as they can, but when you’re physically outmatched its going to be an uphill battle.”

Still if Marina can top the Aztecs, it would be a big win.

“If we go in there healthy, this is our best shot at winning a league game,” Petrone said. “It really is.”

Other Week 8 action around the area is as follows:

TONIGHT

Fountain Valley (7-0, 2-0) at Newport Harbor (4-3, 1-1), 7 p.m.: The Barons, ranked No. 6 in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division poll, defeated Esperanza, 31-14, last week.

Coach John Shipp said Fountain Valley started a bit slow. The Barons led 10-7 at halftime before warming up in the second half.

Senior quarterback Dominic Ragland threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. In the second half alone, he was 9 of 10 for 179 yards.

“The defense played well the whole game,” Shipp said. “The offense had a rough first half marred by penalties but in the second half, we played our brand of football. The big thing is playing for four quarters.”

Senior running back Kyle Middlebrooks, who had two touchdown runs and also caught a touchdown pass, is a bit banged up but should be fine for tonight against the Sailors, coming off a 34-6 loss to top-ranked Edison.

Huntington Beach (4-3, 1-1) at Northwood (3-4, 0-2), 7 p.m.: The Oilers will need to forget about last week’s 51-10 loss at the hands of Trabuco Hills in a hurry.

Huntington Beach saw Trabuco’s A.J. Josue throw for 297 yards and three touchdowns for the Mustangs, ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division poll.

“We’ve got to be more consistent on offense and we’ve got to be more consistent in our pass coverage,” Oilers Coach Eric Lo said. “Those are two things right away that are glaring.”

Senior quarterback Sean Guite scored on a run from five yards out to account for the only Huntington Beach points. But the Oilers play Northwood, El Toro and Woodbridge in their final three league games, and Lo said he feels like all three games are win-able.

“We can’t hold our heads because we’re still not in a bad spot,” Lo said.

Ocean View (3-4, 0-2) at Santa Ana (5-2, 1-1), 7 p.m.: The Seahawks have had the misfortune of playing the two Golden West League favorites in their first two league games.

Last week, it was Segerstrom that ended up on top, 42-29, despite 218 yards and three rushing touchdowns from Ocean View sophomore Timmy Robinson.

Ocean View will now face a Santa Ana team that appears to be about an even match, although last year the Saints topped the Seahawks, 37-15.

FRIDAY

Edison (7-0, 2-0) vs. Los Alamitos (6-1, 1-1), 7 p.m. at Huntington Beach High: Coach Dave White said he thinks the Chargers’ two most difficult league games are in the next two weeks. It’s hard to argue with that as top-ranked Edison faces Los Alamitos, No. 8 in the Pac-5 Division poll, and No. 6 Fountain Valley in back-to-back weeks.

Edison is coming off a 34-6 victory over Newport Harbor where the Chargers were in control after the Sailors’ Cedric Whitaker scored on a 65-yard rushing touchdown early on.

Edison quarterback Matt Viles threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns. Four players finished with at least five catches.

Now the Chargers play an always tough Los Al team led by sophomore quarterback Dylan Lagarde, a transfer from Long Beach Poly who started his first game in the Griffins’ win over Marina last week.

“He makes their offense a lot better,” White said. “They’re similar to Newport, offensively. Defensively, I think it might be the best defense we’ve faced all year, and I think we’re the best offense that they’ve faced all year.”

Los Al also has a dynamic running back in junior Nick Richardson, who already has 1,267 yards this year.

“Him and [Fountain Valley senior Kyle] Middlebrooks the next two weeks,” White said. “But it’s exciting. We’re excited.”

Brethren Christian (4-3) at Sage Hill (5-2), 7 p.m.: The Academy League opener for both schools. With only three league games, including one against top-ranked defending CIF champion St. Margaret’s, every league game will count.

The Lions are coming off a 20-3 win over Arrowhead Christian. Senior Ryan Randle had 197 rushing yards and a touchdown, as well as an interception on defense.

Rancho Alamitos (3-4, 0-2) at Los Amigos (0-7, 0-2), 7 p.m.: The Lobos fell to La Quinta, 24-10, last week despite Daniel Hernandez’s one-yard touchdown run.

Los Amigos, still looking for its first win of the year, faces a Rancho Alamitos team trying for its first Garden Grove League win as well.

Week 7 Top Performers

Passing

 Matt Viles, Edison – 351 yards, 3 TDs.

Rushing

 Timmy Robinson, Ocean View – 218 yards, 3 TDs.

Receiving

 Davion Orphey, Edison – 109 yards.