Marina Has Everything in Place in Victory

Ray Mietkiewicz’s first trip to the doctor a few weeks back wasn’t very fun. He had broken his left wrist in Marina High’s second game of the season and was told he could be out as long as eight weeks.

But he got a second opinion and was told he could play as long as he wore a protective cast.

That was good news for Marina but bad news for Westminster as Mietkiewicz rushed for 253 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 42-26 nonleague victory Friday.

“It was wonderful to have Ray back,” said Marina Coach Mark Rehling said.

Mietkiewicz’s final two touchdowns showed off his talents to the utmost. Each time the 6-foot-1, 235-pound fullback burst through a hole, he shed tacklers and then ran away from defensive backs in the open field.

His 62-yard scoring run gave Marina a 35-7 lead late in the first half and his 84-yard scoring run put the Vikings ahead, 42-14.

Mietkiewicz, who didn’t play last week in a 24-14 loss to Upland, said the only trouble he had was switching the ball from hand to hand.

“I didn’t feel [the injury] at all,” Mietkiewicz said about the injury. “I couldn’t even tell I played in a game.”

Marina (2-1-1) dominated the first half behind Mietkiewicz and the rest of the offense.

Quarterback Beau Brown rushed for 109 yards including a touchdown in 10 carries and also threw a touchdown pass.

Marina averaged 13.3 yards per play in the first quarter and had 320 yards in the first half. The Vikings finished with 500 yards in total offense.

“Our first-half intensity on offense and defense was right where we wanted it to be,” Rehling said.

Westminster (1-3) played better in the second half, especially on offense.

Quarterback Kelly Coburn was 19 of 36 for 201 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver Phil Jenkins caught eight passes for 81 yards, including two touchdowns. He also had an interception.

Sophomore linebacker Jared Jenkins returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown as Westminster cut the Marina lead to 42-26 with 1 minute 51 seconds left.