Jackson’s Two Big Plays Cap Marina’s Comeback

Steve Jackson caught a 12-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and then intercepted a pass moments later to help give Marina High School a 17-14 victory over Huntington Beach Friday night in front of 3,000 fans at Sheue Field.

Marina (6-3, 3-2 in the Sunset League) kept its Division I playoff hopes alive in the Sunset League while Huntington Beach (5-4, 1-4) was eliminated from postseason consideration by losing for the fourth time in its past five games.

The game also ended Marina’s three-game losing streak to Huntington Beach and gave the Vikings the city’s victory trophy.

Huntington Beach set the tone for a game of errors when it recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff. Sean Lancaster scooped up a loose ball at Marina’s 25-yard line and raced to the end zone for a 7-0 lead with only 11 seconds elapsed.

Quarterback Mike Chavira got Huntington Beach rolling to a 14-0 lead when he connected with tight end Gabe Stupin on a 10-yard touchdown play. Chavira passed for 239 yards, but the senior also threw two costly interceptions and fumbled once in the second half.

Chavira’s fumble at his own four-yard line with eight minutes remaining to play proved to be the turning point. Defensive tackle Ingmar Northcoft recovered Chavira’s fumble and Jackson eventually scored the winning touchdown.

When Huntington Beach tried to rally, Jackson was equally effective defensively. Chavira’s first pass attempt was intercepted by Jackson at Huntington Beach’s 46-yard line. The turnover was a fitting end to a series of mistakes by both teams.

“We shot ourselves in the foot time after time tonight, but we never gave up,” said Marina Coach John Seeley. “You could sum up this game in one word: persistence. We survived in a game that we had to win.”

Huntington Beach did a good job of limiting Marina fullback Shawn Fulford to 73 yards in 20 carries. Fulford had averaged 101 yards per game in eight previous games. But the Oilers missed two scoring opportunities that ultimately cost them the game.

“We fumbled at the one-yard line and threw an interception in the end zone and that was the ballgame,” said Huntington Beach Coach George Pascoe. “We played well enough to win the ballgame, but then we’ve played well enough to win the last three weeks and lost every game.”