Marina Is Alone at the Top

In the Sunset League’s whacked-out version of reality this year, this might be the strangest development of all:

With two weeks left in the regular season, the team flying solo atop the standings with an unbeaten league record is . . . Marina?

True story. After brutalizing host Huntington Beach, 47-15, behind Ray Mietkiewicz’s 322 rushing yards and five touchdowns Friday night, the 10th-ranked Vikings are 3-0 in the league.

Largely discounted as a potential title contender before the season, the Vikings (5-2-1 overall) are alone in first place, ahead of such preseason favorites as Fountain Valley (2-1 in league), Edison (1-2), Esperanza (1-2) and even top-ranked Los Alamitos (2-1) after it was upset by Fountain Valley on Thursday.

“We thought we’d be good,” said Marina Coach Mark Rehling, whose team’s remaining games are at Esperanza and Los Alamitos. “But we never expected we’d be alone in first at this point. It’s wonderful.”

Said Mietkiewicz, who has 1,345 yards rushing: “This is what we worked all spring and summer for. We’re going for the title.”

The 235-pound Mietkiewicz, bowling over tacklers or dragging them in his wake, had touchdown runs of six, 28, 17, 15 and two yards among his 31 carries for the Vikings, who trailed 15-7 in the second quarter. Marina scored twice in the last 2:10 of the half to reverse the momentum, then blanked the Oilers, 26-0, in the second half.

The Viking defense was overwhelming, recording nine sacks. The Oilers (4-4, 0-3) didn’t make another first down after taking their 15-7 lead 9:28 before halftime.