The Bottom Line: Mending ways

The bad news came late last Friday night, when the scoreboard read

Upland 24, Marina 14, which was the first loss for the Vikings during the

1999 season.

But if there was an upside to last weekend’s defeat, it’s that the

Vikings learned that they soon may having starting fullback Ray

Mietkiewicz back in the starting line up.

Maybe even Friday night, when the Vikings host the Westminster

Lions at Westminster High’s Bill Boswell Field.

‘Ray may play,’ Marina Coach Mark Rehling said before Monday’s

practice. ‘He went to see a second doctor, who told Ray that he could

play with this type of injury. We don’t want to rush it, though, if he

isn’t ready. We’ll just have to wait and see.’

Mietkiewicz broke his right wrist in a Sept. 16 tie with Newport

Harbor. At first, it was thought that the 6-foot-1, 235 senior, who

sports a cast on his right arm, would be out of action indefinitely. But

now, there’s hope for a quick return.

Possibly Friday night?

‘If we did play Ray, it would be in a limited role,’ Rehling

explained. ‘Even though his doctor has cleared him to play, we want to

ease him into the situation. We’re not going to push the envelope,

however. What’s important is that he heal properly.’

Mietkiewicz returned for his final season at Marina after a junior

campaign which saw him rush for 1,549 yards and 15 touchdowns, which put

him among the county’s top 10 rushers during the 1998 prep season.

Both the yardage and touchdowns also established school

single-season records in both categories.

‘Obviously, you don’t want to lose a player like Ray,’ Rehling

added. ‘He’s just a tremendous player who gives it his all, and a good

kid, too. Though all of this, Ray’s had a wonderful attitude, and still

is asking how he can contribute to this team. He doesn’t want to give up

any of the duties he had before this injury.’