The Metro-South Bay League football title will be decided this Friday at Mar Vista High School between the host Mariners (7-1 overall) and the Hilltop Lancers (4-4) after both teams recorded decisive victories in last Friday’s league openers.
Mar Vista defeated host San Ysidro, 49-7, while Hilltop shut out visiting Southwest 35-0. The Mariners, who are averaging 9.3 yards per rushing play, are riding a four-game winning streak while the Lancers have won three consecutive games.
Friday’s title showdown will offer a clash of styles: Mar Vista’s gritty, hard-nosed, relentless double-wing running attack against Hilltop’s more diversified pass-and-run offense.
Mar Vista went right to work against the Cougars last Friday by piling up 14 points in each of the opening two quarters and tacking on 21 points in the third quarter for the kill.
The Mariners rushed the ball 41 times for 545 yards. MV quarterback Jordan Lertique attempted three passes in the game — all incomplete.
Jimmie Hill rushed 12 times for 140 yards, Kenny Nieves rushed seven times for 133 yards, Bennie Smith rushed eight times for 120 yards, Keevin Moore rushed seven times for 97 yards and Lertique had five carries for 47 yards.
Nieves had one 59-yard scamper while Moore broke off a 47-yard run and Moore had one dash go for 40 yards.
Moore scored two touchdowns to lead the MV ground assault while Nieves, Hill, Lertique and Smith each had one touchdown. Adrian Iriarte also had one score on a ???
Paul Greene, Ben Bernabe, Dustin Downs, Alec Leal and Omar Hernandez each scored touchdowns in last Friday’s victory. Hernandez completed five of eight passing attempts for 73 yards and also rushed eight times for 52 yards.
Downs, a late season addition to the backfield, rushed 11 times for 64 yards while D.J. Hunsicker had 13 carries for 30 yards.
As a team, the Lancers compiled 174 rushing yards on 37 carries, breaking off several long gains. Hernandez had one 34-yard jaunt from the line of scrimmage while Downs had one 24-yard run and Hunsicker had one 16-yard gain.
Sergio Bueno had one reception for 25 yards, Abraham Gonzalez had one catch for 22 yards while Greene caught two passes for 20 yards.
Hernandez, who can pass and run the ball, also has performed duties this season as the team’s place-kicker. He booted three extra-point kicks in the win while Cesar Moreno had two PAT conversions.
With nine points, Hernandez led all Hilltop scorers in the game.
For the season, Hernandez has passed for 908 yards and rushed for 599 yards.
