WESTMINSTER — Marina football coach Charlie TeGantvoort headed into the game against Esperanza expecting his team’s toughest opponent thus far.
The Vikings blocked a potential go-ahead field goal late in the third then added a pair of touchdowns in the fourth to get past Esperanza 21-7 on Friday night at Westminster High.
Shane Cassidy caught two touchdown passes and quarterback Garret Hunnicutt ran for another one as Marina (5-0) is headed into their bye week undefeated.
“It took us a while to find our footing and once we did, I couldn’t be more happy of how the guys finished.” TeGantvoort said.
The Vikings defensive unit collected four turnovers (two interceptions and two fumbles) in the win but it was the special teams unit that came up with the game-shifting play.
The Vikings defense denied Esperanza (2-2) a touchdown after the Aztecs drove to the 10-yard line and forced a 22-yard field goal attempt from Andrew Orrick. The kick had a low trajectory and was blocked leaving the score tied 7-7.
“Good penetration by their front that threw off the visual for our kicker,” Esperanza coach JP Presley said. “We thought with the field goal versus going for it, our defense was playing well, we take a lead and get some momentum but we were playing short fields and fell apart in the end.”
“Our defense and special teams carried us,” TeGantvoort said.”And it was Senior Night, so what a great way to honor our seniors.”
After the block, Marina traveled 80-yards in a drive that spanned two quarters and took the lead for good when Hunnicutt found Cassidy in the on a 17-yard TD pass with 11:14 remaining in the game.
Esperanza went three-and-out on their next possession and had a miscue on the punt attempt, where the punter was unable to boot it away and was tackled at the 10-yard line.
Two plays later Hunnicutt scored on a 6-yard run.
After a scoreless first quarter, a strip sack by Gunnar Mickelson which was recovered by Brandon Atchison helped set up the Vikings first score, a 15-yard pass from Hunnicutt to Cassidy to make it 7-0.
The Aztecs responded with a run-heavy drive led by Brody Snyder and capped by a 7-yard pass from Travis Frazier to Coen Ali.
The Aztecs looked primed to take the lead in the third after they gained large chunks of yardage on receptions from Eddie Khutshivili and Ali.
A pass interference penalty helped them get a first-and-goal situation from the 10.
The Vikings will get a week off before starting Lambda league play with a game against Sunny Hills, which TeGantvoort is looking forward to the rematch after last year’s season-opening loss to the Lancers.
“We all remember that, it’s a bitter taste, so we can’t wait to get the extra week to focus and get ready for league.” he said.
