The Big Game

Mike Sciacca

A week before the start of the 1999 high school football season,

Marina High Coach Mark Rehling took a look at the Vikings’ schedule, and

ironically, the first three games on the slate is where his attention was

focused.

‘We look at these first three games as a measuring stick as to

what type of football team we’re going to have this year,’ Rehling said.

‘If we can get off to a great start, then this team - which as the

talent, has the potential to have a banner season.’

Marina got out of the gate with an impressive start last Thursday

as it ran all over host Corona del Mar in a 28-7 victory.

Yet the most defining moment for the Marina program during the

three-game stretch to begin the ’99 season comes tonight, when the

Vikings play host to Newport Harbor at Westminster High in the

Independent’s Game of the Week.

‘This week’s game definitely is a defining moment for our football

team,’ said Rehling, who also stated that Marina hasn’t beaten Newport

Harbor in ‘a long, long time.’

‘There’s no guessing game with Newport. Offensively, then run it

right at you, so we’ll need to be primed on defense. We’d better be,

because they’re big, and we’ll need to be physical enough to hand in

there and punch. On the other side of the ball, Newport has an extremely

aggressive front four. This is a big test for us.’

The Sailors potent rushing game, featuring Andre Stewart and Ryan

Brill, will be pitted against Marina’s primary back, Ray Mietkiewicz.

In last Thursday’s 55-6 blow out of Orange, the Stewart/Brill duo

combined to rush for 219 of Newport Harbor’s 308 total rushing yards.

In all, the Sailors rushed for five touchdowns against the

Panthers, who avoided a shutout by scoring in the fourth period.

Mietkiewicz had his way against Corona del Mar, rushing for 164

yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 28-7 Viking victory in a game played

on the Newport Harbor campus stadium.

Tonight’s game will be a key one for Marina quarterback Beau

Brown. The junior had his first career varsity start last week, and both

he and the Vikings’ veer offense will be tested against a very tough

Newport Harbor defense.

‘Beau has a big game ahead of him, but we’re confident in his

abilities,’ Rehling said. ‘Philosophically, we’re basically trying to do

the same thing as Newport, and that’s counter with a strong rushing game

of our own. Defensively, we want to put pressure on their quarterback and

get into their backfield. It’s key that we not give up the big play.’

Coach Jeff Brinkley returns six offensive and three defensive

starters from last year’s 6-4 squad. The Sailors used two quarterbacks,

sophomore Brian Gaeta and junior Chris Manderino last week, and the pair

have a very talented receiving group to throw to in Billy Clayton and

Justin Jacobs.

The offensive line is another strong suit and includes, among

them, Division I prospect Blair Jones, a 6-8, 262 senior tackle, and

senior tackle Robert Cole (6-4, 325).

Marina’s defense opened the season impressively as it recorded six

sacks against Corona del Mar.

‘We’ll need a similar effort to beat Newport,’ Rehling concluded.

‘We’re coming off a big win, and hopefully, we can carry that momentum

into this game. We’re looking forward to this one.’