Schuster Runs for 266 Yards as Esperanza Beats Marina
Esperanza was expected to have one of the county’s best offenses this year, and the second-ranked Aztecs have lived up to their advance billing.
But it also says something when your offense scores seven touchdowns, amasses 591 yards--and feels as if it barely hung on to beat Marina, 49-33, Thursday at Westminster.
Esperanza (8-1, 3-1) finally knocked out Marina when running back Jarod Schuster broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run--his fourth of the game--with 33 seconds to play.
Schuster finished with 266 yards in 23 carries.
“The offensive line was great tonight,” Schuster said. “But Marina is tough. It took everything we had [to win].”
Marina (4-5, 1-3) never led but was able to land some offensive shots and finished with 449 total yards.
Running back Ray Mietkiewicz had 191 yards in 18 carries and scored three touchdowns. Quarterback Scot Austin rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown and passed for 100 yards.
“I was very proud of our kids tonight--they played their butts off,” Marina Coach Mark Rehling said. “I can’t feel bad about the game. [Esperanza] has a very good team and very good skill kids.”
One of those, quarterback Grant Wagner, ultimately proved to be the difference. He completed 20 of 23 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns and guided the Aztecs to seven touchdowns in eight possessions.
The only time Esperanza did not score was late in the fourth quarter, when Wagner had a pass tipped and intercepted by Marina linebacker Trevor Bond at the Viking eight.
But Esperanza’s inability to contain Marina bothered Coach Gary Meek.
“We normally have problems matching up with Marina and trying to stop their option game,” Meek said. “But we also have to tackle better. There have been games where we have forced mistakes; but they didn’t have a turnover or a penalty tonight.”
Wagner threw touchdown passes of seven yards to Kris Hall, 25 yards to Schuster (who broke four tackles) and 22 yards to Nick Vicencia with eight seconds left in the first half.