Marina reaches first CIF football title game with win at Hemet

Whatever Marina High football coach Jeff Turley might have wanted to say to his team after the biggest moment in program history, they did not hear until they had gone into the locker room.

Turley iterated that he was left speechless by his team, one that has impressed him once again.

Second-seeded Marina defeated host Hemet 27-7 in a CIF Southern Section Division 11 semifinal playoff game on Friday night, advancing to its first section championship game in school history.

“I don’t even know how to put that into words,” Turley said. “I’m speechless. This is so big for the Marina community, the alumni, everyone who has had a part in building this program up. This is everyone’s reward right now.”

The Vikings (11-2) will have a home game against No. 4 Pasadena Muir (11-2) in the CIF final on either Nov. 29 or 30. Muir beat Temecula Linfield Christian 34-22 in the other semifinal.

“I’m very confident,” Vikings senior middle linebacker Nathan O’Rourke said. “I’m excited for next week’s game. I’m ready to play right now.”

Turley vouched for a two-quarterback system before the season. He played juniors Jack Miller and Gavin Del Toro at the position throughout the year.

When Miller, the starter, was lost to a collarbone injury in the quarterfinals against Ontario Christian, the Vikings still had a quarterback who was ready for a game.

Del Toro shined under the brightest of lights, completing 17 of 22 passes for 272 yards. He even got a chance to take a deep shot on a third-and-26 play, and he connected with Dane Brenton, who beat double coverage for a 51-yard touchdown. The score put Marina ahead 7-0 with 50 seconds left in the first quarter.

“We were sitting there looking at it, and we felt that the kid couldn’t stay with [Brenton],” Turley said. “We said, ‘Let’s take a shot.’ The defense had been stopping them. We were doing well, so, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s try it.’”

Defense helped Marina keep momentum on its side. Following the big-play touchdown, the Vikings stopped the Bulldogs (8-5) in the red zone.

Ronny Slavens intercepted a pass from Jeremiah Graves, who was looking for his favorite target, Ethan Leonard, inside of the 10-yard line.

The Vikings could not pick up a first down, and Eric Church’s punt was partially blocked by Justin Johnson. Again, the Marina defense stiffened when it had to.

O’Rourke made a diving catch to complete a tip-drill interception at the Marina 23. Defensive tackle Seth Wilson had deflected the pass.

Defensive end Darren Vasquez also broke up a couple of passes at the line of scrimmage.

After the turnover, Marina converted. An eight-play, 78-yard drive was capped with a three-yard touchdown run by Pharoah Rush. He finished with 13 carries for 98 yards.

Trailing 14-0 at halftime, Hemet got a three-and-out series defensively to open the third quarter. The Bulldogs needed just two plays to find the end zone when they got the ball. Graves kept the ball for a 46-yard run, and Maximus Moore scored on a goal-line run up the middle.

Del Toro scored on a quarterback sneak on the second play of the fourth quarter to reestablish the Vikings’ two-score advantage. Brantt Riederich added a one-yard rushing touchdown with 4:42 remaining.

“It’s unreal,” Rush said of reaching the championship game. “We’re filled with joy right now. Knowing that we’re the first ever to make it there, it’s a great feeling.

“We never thought about this freshman year, coming in to play Marina football. We always thought, ‘Oh, this is going to be decent.’ We came out, and it’s spectacular this year.”

CIF Southern Section Division 11 playoffs

Semifinal

Marina 27, Hemet 7

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Marina 7 – 7 – 0 – 13 — 27

Hemet 0 – 0 – 7 – 0 — 7

FIRST QUARTER

M – Brenton 51 pass from Del Toro (Church kick), 0:50.

SECOND QUARTER

M – Rush 3 run (Church kick), 2:10.

THIRD QUARTER

H – Moore 1 run (Aguilar kick), 8:59.

FOURTH QUARTER

M – Del Toro 1 run (kick blocked), 11:48.

M – Riederich 1 run (Church kick), 4:42.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

M – Rush, 13-98, 1 TD.

H – Graves, 17-86.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

M – Del Toro, 17-22-0, 272, 1 TD.

H – Graves, 13-32-2, 178.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

M – Church, 3-58.

H – Leonard, 8-126.

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