High School Football Preview: Marina vs. Santa Ana

Marina (3-0) vs. Santa Ana (2-0)

When/where: Thursday 7 p.m., at Westminster High

Key Vikings: Jr. QB Ian Green; Jr. RB Blaine Riederich; Sr. WR Noah Holmes; Sr. LB Trevor Klasson; Sr. SS Rand Keidel.

Key Saints: Jr. QB Damian Macias; Sr. WR Chris Nava; Jr. WR Pablo Aguirre; Jr. RB Allen Pacheco.

Breakdown: The Vikings, ranked No. 8 in CIF Southern Section Division 12, are off to the program’s best start since a 5-0 mark in 2000…Santa Ana, ranked No. 1 in CIF Division 13, is also having a noteworthy campaign, thus far, including outscoring its two opponents, 72-12…Marina rallied for a 24-20 win over rival Westminster in which it overcame adversity…Holmes has 14 receptions for 333 yards and six touchdowns, while Green has completed 23 of 57 passes for 444 yards and six touchdowns…Riederich has rushed for 343 yards and four touchdowns…Junior Caden Snyder has four of the Vikings’ seven interceptions, while Klasson has a team-best 36 tackles…Macias has shown versatility with three rushing touchdowns, 140 yards passing and two receptions for 48 yards, including one touchdown…Marina Coach Jeff Turley said after last week’s win that he was unsure the last time Marina began the season 3-0, but it is the first time since 2012 that the Vikings have posted three wins in a season…The last time Marina won at least four games in a season was 2001, when it finished 5-6...Santa Ana was 8-3 last season and lost in the first round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

— Barry Faulkner