Defense Should Mark Marina-Servite Meeting

Two of Orange County’s best defensive teams will clash tonight at 7:30 when Marina High School plays Servite in a nonleague game at Santa Ana Stadium.

The Friars will be looking to avenge two 1984 losses to the Vikings, the first coming in the nonleague season and the second coming in the second round of the Big Five Conference playoffs.

Marina, which has allowed just 16 points in two games, opened the season with a 9-9 tie against St. Louis High of Hawaii before returning to the mainland last week to defeat defending Southern Conference runnerup Esperanza, 21-7.

Defensive backs Billy Craft, Keith Laszlo and Matt Matay all had interceptions for Marina, which also received touchdown passes of 46 and 65 yards from quarterback Rick Vanderriet.

The Friars also intercepted three Colton passes (one each by Pat Clarke, Mike Hirou and Jim Sanford) in their 29-12 season-opening victory over the Yellowjackets last week. Servite’s defense, which allowed an average of 8.8 points per game last year, is anchored by linebackers Brett and Ted Valmassei and free safety Jim Sanford. Two of Servite’s interceptions led to touchdowns against Colton.

In his first varsity start, quarterback Tim Rosenkranz had a big night, passing for 178 yards in the second half, as the Friars overcame a 12-9 deficit. Rosenkranz finished with 227 yards passing.

In other nonconference games, Brea-Olinda meets Walnut at Nogales High, while Capistrano Valley Christian plays Trabuco Hills at Mission Viejo High.