Mariners looking to extend four-game winning streak into South Bay League play

The Mar Vista High School football team takes a four-game winning streak into Friday’s Metro-South Bay League opener at Sweetwater High School after toppling the visiting Southwest Raiders, 41-8, in last Friday’s annual Battle for the Bell rivalry game.

The Mariners are 5-2 on the season while Sweetwater entered the week 3-4 in non-league play, though that record may change due to possible forfeit losses.

Sweetwater is coming off a 36-26 non-league loss to Vincent Memorial in a game played last Saturday in El Centro.

Bell ringers
Mar Vista and Southwest’s annual Battle for the Bell rivalry game dates to 1979. The Mariners rang the bell in post-game celebration for the fourth consecutive time last Friday.

“It’s always nice to get a win in a rivalry game,” MVHS head coach Tyler Arciaga said. “Many of these kids went to school together in their younger years, so the kids know each other.

“The ‘Bell Game’ has a personal touch to my family as my dad, R.C. Arciaga (former Southwest coach), started the rivalry game with Nick Nicoloff from Mar Vista in 1980. It does mean a lot to both communities and it instills a sense of pride in our kids when we win the Bell Game.”

Jacob Galeana (five carries, 35 yards) scored two rushing touchdowns to give host Mar Vista an early edge on the scoreboard. The Mariners took a 20-0 lead in the final minute before halftime as quarterback Jacob Beck (123 passing yards) threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to De’von Peterson (two catches, 95 yards).

Beck scored on a quarterback keeper midway through the third quarter to increase Mar Vista’s lead to 27-0. Marcus Ramirez continued the scoring for the hosts with a 40-yard touchdown run.

The Mariners took a 41-0 lead on a short touchdown run by Sebastian Burke as the game moved into the fourth quarter.

The Raiders averted a shutout when Joshua Sanchez (six carries, 82 yards) scored on a 70-yard breakaway run.
Southwest generated 202 rushing yards in the loss. Leonard Hoar led the Raiders with 112 yards on 16 carries.
Quarterback David Espinoza completed five of 13 passing attempts for 50 yards.

Is there a favorite in the Metro-South Bay League this season? Mar Vista and Chula Vista (4-3) have combined for seven wins in non-league play.

But the slate is wiped clean once league play starts — the great equalizer for all four teams in the league.

“We have a tough road ahead of us as I believe the South Bay League is one of the most evenly matched leagues in the county,” Arciaga explained. “But our kids have done a good job setting us up with a 5-2 record going into league play.”

Code red
The Red Devils saw their three-game winning streak end in the loss to the Scots. Sweetwater scored in each quarter but could not quite keep pace with the hosts, one of the section’s Division V leaders.

Vincent Memorial led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter and 24-12 at halftime. The Devils won the battle on the scoreboard in the second half — 14-12 — but it wasn’t enough to overcome the first-half deficit.

Marty Sesma rushed 27 times for 220 yards and one touchdown. He has rushed for 997 yards and 10 touchdowns in his four games with the team this year.

Brandon Sweeney completed 16 of 24 passing attempts for 217 yards and two touchdowns — one each to Raul Romero (six catches, 59 yards) and Jose Urenda (three catches, 47 yards).

Eduardo Valenzuela lit up the airwaves with 421 passing yards and four touchdowns for the victors. Juan Pablo Ruiz (nine catches, 264 yards) caught three TD passes.

Vincent Memorial amassed 522 total offensive yards in the contest.

Containing Mar Vista’s explosive offense will be a tall order for the Sweetwater defense. If the game becomes an offensive battle, however, both teams have adequate weapons to match.

“Mar Vista will provide us with a tough challenge as we open league play,” SuHi head coach Bryan Wagner said. “They are a solid team that is well-coached. We are looking to get back to the basic fundamentals of Sweetwater football and play with heart and emotion.  We will be ready.”

Home field advantage could be the factor that tips the balance.

Prep Football Scoreboard
Friday, Oct. 13
Metro-Mesa League

Otay Ranch 35, Olympian 23
Mater Dei Catholic 21, Bonita Vista 0

Non-League
Mar Vista 41, Southwest 8
Montgomery 43, Francis Parker 19
Granite Hills 34, Hilltop 20

Eight Man
Julian 46, Ocean View Christian Academy 0
Horizon Prep 44, Victory Christian Acadmey 34

Saturday, Oct. 14
Non-League

Vincent Memorial 36, Sweetwater 26

Friday, Oct. 20
Metro-Mesa League

Mater Dei Catholic at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
Otay Ranch vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.

Metro-South Bay League
Mar Vista at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
Hilltop at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.

Metro-Pacific League
San Ysidro at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
Southwest at Montgomery, 7 p.m.

San Diego Section
Playoff Tracker
Division I

Eastlake Titans 5-2
Olympian Eagles 4-4
Bonita Vista Barons 0-8

Division II
Otay Ranch Mustangs 5-3
Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders 4-3

Division III
Mar Vista Mariners 5-2
Hilltop Lancers 3-4

Division IV
Chula Vista Spartans 4-3
Sweetwater Red Devils 3-4
Castle Park Trojans 0-7

Division V
Montgomery Aztecs 4-3
San Ysidro Cougars 3-4
Southwest Raiders 2-5

Eight-Man
Victory Christian Academy 2-3
Ocean View Christian Academy 3-3

San Diego Section
Unbeaten Teams

Division I
Mission Hills Grizzlies 7-0

Division II
Ramona Bulldogs 7-0
Bishop’s Knights 6-0

Division III
Southwest El Centro Eagles 7-0


Division IV

San Diego Cavers 7-0