SUNSET LEAGUE : Marina Finally Has an Easy Time; Ocean View Falls

It was about time Marina football team had an easy game.

After winning four close games in the past month and clinching a berth in the Southern Section Division II playoffs, Marina was substituting in the second quarter and coasting to a 35-7 Sunset League victory over Ocean View Thursday night at Westminster High.

Marina (6-3-1, 5-1-1) will go into postseason play as the league’s No. 2 team and riding an unbeaten streak of five games. The Vikings surprised nearly everyone who had picked them to finish sixth in the eight-team league.

The secret to Marina’s success? “Good defense and special teams, a solid running back and a turnover ratio of 26-14,” Coach Dave Thompson said. “This is a confident team that is very receptive to coaching.”

What Thompson forgot to add is the fact that Marina knows how to win the close games. The Vikings were coming off three victories and tie, in which they failed to outscore an opponent by more than four points.

“They beat us, 9-6, Westminster by 11-7 and Santa Ana, 20-17,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “Everyone keeps asking me how do they do it. I think a lot of the credit has to go to defensive coordinator Larry Doyle.”

Marina’s defense was dominating against Ocean View as the Vikings sacked Ocean View quarterback Fred Brown five times and limited him to only 25 yards passing. Ocean View also found the going pretty tough on the ground, rushing for only 84 yards.

Marina also showed there is something special about its special teams. The Vikings opened the game by recovering an on-side kick, marking the third time this season they have recovered the opening kickoff.

Marina’s solid running back, John Marvos, was a model of consistency. He gained 128 yards in 26 carries and scored two touchdowns. And that turnover ratio? Marina’s Danny De Luca intercepted a pass and teammate Jack Spade recovered Marvos’ fumble in the end zone for a Viking touchdown.

The good news for Ocean View: It’s now basketball season. The Seahawks have lost 19 consecutive football games and lost 10 starters with major injuries. When Ocean View Coach Howard Isom was asked if he would be returning next season, he said, “It’s something I going to have give considerable thought to.