Marina football players celebrate after Friday’s victory over Segerstrom. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)
It’s been a long time coming but Marina’s football team had a lot to celebrate Friday night.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
The Vikings clinched at least a share of the Big Four League title, their first league crown since 1986 defeating Segerstrom 25-14 at Westminster.
“This is big, 1986, my offensive coordinator was born that year,” said Marina Coach Jeff Turley. “Right now, we’re guaranteed a share of it.
“It’s an awesome thing, these seniors have really come together and worked hard. We had a really good week of practice and it paid off.”
Both teams came into league play undefeated. Marina (7-2, 2-0) can clinch an outright league title with a win over Garden Grove next week. Segerstrom (8-1, 1-1) finishes league play vs. Westminster.
Junior quarterback Jack Miller led Marina, passing for 156 yards and a TD pass.
Marina was able to capitalize on five Segerstrom turnovers (four fumbles and an interception). Wyatt McClour returned one of the fumbles for a 67-yard TD in the second quarter that put Marina ahead 12-0.
“It’s been forever and it means so much to lead a program like this,” Miller said. “As the saying…. faith, family and football and this team is like my real family and we couldn’t have done it without everybody. It takes a full team effort.”
Segerstrom was led by quarterback Angel Vega who passed for 246 yards, scored on a TD run and threw for another. But Marina’s defense put constant pressure on Vega.
Vega connected with Andrew Schouw on a 70-yard TD pass in the second quarter to put Segerstrom ahead 14-12.
But Marina finished the evening with two scores. Miller hit Eric Church on a 13-yard TD pass in the third quarter and Pharoah Rush scored from four yards out in the fourth quarter to make it 25-14.
Rush also had a 20-yard TD run in the first quarter and wound up with 81 yards rushing on 11 carries.
It was a bitter defeat for Segerstrom, which came in undefeated and with high hopes of getting in position to claim the league title after finishing second to Garden Grove last year. The Jaguars were ranked No. 2 in Division 10 this week.
“Obviously disappointed in the outcome,” said Segerstrom Coach Joseph Tagaloa. “We picked the wrong day to play our worst game but such is the game, you got to show up and you got to make plays and tonight Marina made the plays and there’s nothing we can do about it at this point.
“There are a lot of things that go into a game obviously and tonight, just wasn’t our night.”
Schouw had three catches for 102 yards and also had an interception in the first quarter.
Marina also had solid efforts from Dane Brenton, who had four catches for 84 yards and Church, who had four catches for 48 yards.
Defensive back Maguire Dobkins sealed the victory with an interception in the final seconds near the Vikings 10-yard line.
Moments later, the Vikings were celebrating one of their biggest victories in school history.
–Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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