Marina Defense Slams the Door on Westminster

Marina’s defense stopped two Westminster drives inside the 10-yard line late in the game to preserve a 20-17 victory and pull the Vikings into a first-place tie in the Sunset League Friday night at Westminster High.

Led by nose tackle Ingmar Northcott, the Vikings’ defense stopped the Lions on third and fourth and goal from the one with less than 30 seconds left in the game as Westminster twice tried to score on quarterback sneaks.

Marina (6-3, 4-1 in league) rebounded from a 17-6 halftime deficit, scoring two consecutive times in the second half to take a three-point lead, but Westminster twice drove deep into Marina territory in the fourth quarter but came away empty.

“I’d say it was a pretty good game to watch,” Marina Coach Dave Thompson said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a goal-line stand to win a game.”

After watching their lead melt away, the Lions (3-6, 2-4) marched to the Marina six with just under a minute left. On first and goal, Matt Bailey went into the center of the line for a one-yard gain and then Johnny Mahurien hit Robert Besanson with a four-yard pass to the Viking one.

On third down, Mahurien tried to go over, but was stopped and had to leave the game with an ankle injury. His replacement, Jared Wells, tried the same play, but was stacked up by linemen Northcott and John McLeod and linebackers Bob Stewart and Mark Crowley.