Fountain Valley shows flair for dramatic in overtime win over Marina
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Fountain Valley had 10 seconds left to cover 46 yards, clawing for breath and running out of race track in pursuit of a tying touchdown.
In a dramatic and unlikely turn of events, the Barons pulled it off, then proceeded to continue to defy the odds past the regulation horn.
Sophomore Matthew Hunter’s back-of-the-end-zone reception sent the game to overtime, where the Barons made plays on both sides of the ball to claim a 27-21 win over visiting Marina on Friday at ‘Cap’ Sheue Field.
Isaac Combs’ fourth touchdown, a walk-in score for Raymond Dillon Jr. after he flung it out to the left side, completed the comeback for Fountain Valley (2-1), which has multiple wins in a season for the first time since 2023.
Fountain Valley coach Mitch Olson said his staff was viewing the Vikings as a “benchmark game,” adding the Barons “almost gave it to them,” but he credited their resilience in getting the result.
“They’ve developed this mental toughness and ability — they’re not going to quit,” Olson said. “They don’t quit. They just kept playing the whole time, and that makes the difference.”
When Hunter reeled in the 25-yard touchdown on the final play of regulation, the home sideline and stands erupted. Drake Robinson, a two-way standout for the Barons, called the atmosphere “electric,” while Combs said he was “in shock” immediately following the win.
“I saw the safety drop down,” said Hunter, recalling his only catch of the contest. “I was supposed to go across, and I just broke and went up the field, and I was wide open.”
Robinson’s thoughts on the momentum-shifting play?
“Just pure excitement,” he said. “It gave us another chance.”
An extra point conversion by Omar Khaleq, and the sides headed to the extra session, each getting a possession from the other’s 25-yard line going in.
Marina (0-3) got the ball first, the Vikings’ voyage cut short when the Barons stripped Ben Ramos on fourth-and-1 on the opening series of overtime, Keisyn Faletoi ripping the ball out and Braunson Kahn making the recovery.
“It just felt like the momentum was totally ours,” Olson said. “I felt really good going out there [in overtime]. We made two great, like fourth-and-a-foot stops, and that was the game.”
Combs completed 19 of 28 pass attempts for 270 yards. Nathan Gordon caught five balls for a team-best 97 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown grab on third-and-24 in the first quarter, then a 21-yard grab to set up Hunter’s heroics on the final drive.
Marina had played from behind most of the contest, but after having a drive stall out on the doorstep of a go-ahead score, the Vikings took advantage of the field position defensively, securing a safety with a tackle in the end zone to tie the score, 14-14, early in the fourth quarter.
A 3-yard rushing score by Ramos then put the Vikings ahead for the first time, 21-14, with 1:39 remaining.
Ramos handled 31 offensive touches, including 29 carries for 122 yards. Carson Hunnicutt also had seven catches for 109 yards, featuring a sideline grab on which he kept his balance to stay inbounds for a 29-yard touchdown from Maverick Coverick.
“We had our chances,” Marina coach Charlie TeGantvoort said. “We had opportunities. If we want to be a good team, we have to be able to rise to the opportunity and rise to the occasion. Fighting hard is great, but when it’s time to make a play, that’s what we have to learn.”
Fountain Valley plays host to St. Margaret’s (2-0) on Thursday at ‘Cap’ Sheue Field. Marina travels to take on Cerritos (0-3) on Friday at Gahr High.
Nonleague
Fountain Valley 27, Marina 21
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Marina 0 - 12 - 0 - 9 - 0 — 21
Fountain Valley 7 - 7 - 0 - 7 - 6 — 27
FIRST QUARTER
FV — Gordon 39 pass from Combs (Khaleq kick), 6:33.
SECOND QUARTER
M — Ramos 1 run (Martinez kick blocked), 11:58.
FV — Dillon Jr. 29 pass from Combs (Khaleq kick), 8:13.
M — Hunnicutt 29 pass from Coverick (Coverick pass failed), 2:46.
THIRD QUARTER
None.
FOURTH QUARTER
M — Safety (tackle in end zone), 9:37.
M — Ramos 3 run (Martinez kick), 1:39.
FV — Hunter 25 pass from Combs (Khaleq kick), 0:00.
OVERTIME
FV — Dillon Jr. 7 pass from Combs.
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING
M — Ramos, 29-122, 1 TD; Delgado, 7-45; Coverick, 4-14; Team, 3-(-24).
FV — Robinson, 4-20; Farr, 5-14; Huizer, 3-9; Combs, 2-3; Team, 2-(-38).
INDIVIDUAL PASSING
M — Coverick, 18-29-0, 182, 1 TD.
FV — Combs, 19-28-1, 270, 4 TDs; Robinson, 0-1-0, 0.
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING
M — Hunnicutt, 7-109, 1 TD; Kirk, 8-48; Gutierrez, 1-18; Ramos, 2-7.
FV — Gordon, 5-97, 1 TD; Dillon Jr., 6-78, 2 TDs; Robinson, 5-62; Hunter, 1-25, 1 TD; Farr, 3-8.
