Cal Lutheran’s Marine Draws Raves in Win : College football: Menlo coach lauds receiver who keys Kingsmen’s 40-20 victory with 11 catches for 111 yards.

After his team’s 40-20 nonconference loss to Cal Lutheran on Saturday, Menlo College Coach Ray Solari switched sports more than once.

He said the four Cal Lutheran scores off Menlo turnovers were “layups” and that Kingsmen receiver Pete Marine, who hurt his team all day, was “like Barry Bonds.”

“We knew he was their best guy,” Solari said of Marine, who made 11 catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. “We put all kinds of special coverages on him, but he’s smooth. He’s like Bonds. He comes in and hits home runs.”

Only one of Marine’s catches was the equivalent of a home run, a 27-yard touchdown that put the Kingsmen ahead, 27-13, in the third quarter. The others were like well-placed singles--seven of Marine’s catches gave Cal Lutheran first downs.

The Kingsmen (3-1), fueled by four Menlo turnovers, scored 20 straight points in the second half to turn a 20-13 game into a rout and keep Menlo (0-4) winless.

“We made some good breaks that we were able to capitalize on,” Cal Lutheran Coach Joe Harper said. “And we brought 50 players up and all of them played.”

After Dan Leffler’s 41-yard field goal put the Kingsmen ahead, 3-0, Menlo fumbled the kickoff and Cal Lutheran took over at the Menlo 26-yard line. Eight plays later, running back Steve Roussell scored on a second effort from two yards.

After Menlo cut the lead to 10-7, Roussell scored again on a nine-yard run with six minutes to play in the half. An interception by linebacker Cory Undlin gave the Kingsmen the ball back a minute later and a 32-yard field goal by Leffler increased the lead to 20-7.

After Marine’s scoring catch, the knockout punch came on a blocked punt and 20-yard touchdown return by Cal Lutheran’s John Wilson.