The Mar Vista Mariners are known for their rushing attack and usually attempt no more than two passes per game. Well, the passing game, for once, turned out to be the key ingredient in last Friday’s dramatic 25-22 come-from-behind victory at Patrick Henry.
Jordan Lertique attempted three passes against the Patriots and completed one. But the 20-yarder to Adrian Iriarte in the dying seconds turned out to be the game-winner.
Leading 18-0 at halftime, Mar Vista (4-1) saw the hosts rally with 22 unanswered points to take a 22-18 lead into the waning moments of the teams’ non-league match-up.
Iriarte caught Lertique’s pass under tight coverage near the end zone pylon as the momentum of both players carried them out of bounds. Their feet brushed the pylon as their bodies contorted.
The on-field ruling was that Iriarte had managed to somehow twist the ball over the goal line, sparking off a spirited celebration on the Mariner sideline. Television replays appeared inconclusive.
Keevin Moore and Bennie Smith each scored on 11-yard runs while Jimmie Hill had a two-point conversion and Ricardo Moriel kicked a 28-yard field goal to stake the visitors to their early lead.
But Patrick Henry, which matched Mar Vista’s 3-0 start to the season, came storming back on three touchdown passes by James McCormick — a nine-yarder to Nick Pankow, a five-yarder to Austin Hester and an eight-yarder to Derek Haring.
McCormick also scored on a two-point conversion.
Hill led the Mariners with 13 carries for 105 rushing yards while Moore gained 91 yards on nine carries, Smith had 85 yards on 13 attempts and Lertique scrambled for 61 yards on three carries.
Mar Vista rolled up a staggering 405 rushing yards on 45 attempts.
By contrast, Patrick Henry managed 89 rushing yards to go with 123 passing yards. Haring had six catches for 93 yards while Lamarr Horne had 12 rushes for 57 yards.
The Mariners totaled five sacks in the game, including two by Lashon Riggins and one each by Jr. Rodriguez, Landon Clark and John Hays.
Mar Vista will tackle the host Montgomery Aztecs (4-1) this Friday in a non-league match-up. The Aztecs are coming off a 38-3 non-league victory at Calexico (0-4) on Sept. 30.
In the latter game, Montgomery’s Charles Williams rushed 10 times for 100 yards and scored two touchdowns while Miguel Rodriguez caught a 45-yard TD pass, Charles Harmon made a 35-yard scoring grab and Joey Gonzalez booted a 34-yard field goal.
For the Mariners, Hill has run for 724 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns.
