PHAROAH RUSH (4) carries the ball for Marina against Katella in pre-league game Friday night at Glover Field in Anaheim. Marina won 21-15 to improve to 3-0. (Orange County Tribune photos by Jim Tortolano).

By Chris Abdelmalek

On a warm Friday night at Glover Stadium in Anaheim, unbeatens Katella High and Marina High clashed and only the Vikings are still hot, prevailing 21-15 in the non-league encounter.

Katella (now 3-1) scored first on a 63-yard tipped touchdown pass from Pharrell Scorza to Marcus Viramontes, but that was pretty much it for the Knights’ offense in the first half, as Scorza threw a pair of interceptions.

“I messed up in the beginning throwing two picks,” he said. But “I have faith in my line to block for me and my receivers.”

JACK MILLER threw for two touchdown passes as Marina defeated Katella 21-15 Friday night.

The Vikes defense would end up forcing six turnovers, and was lights-out when it counted,

After falling behind, Marina (3-0) scored twice on touchdowns by Gavin Del Toro and Dane Brenton to move into a 14-7 lead. Quarterback Jake Miller completed 12-of-24 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns for Marina. His second TD pass – a 38-yard strike to Pharoah Rush – would prove to be the game-winner.

With five minutes to play, Katella made a move to catch up. The Knights drove to the four-yard line and Miles Poland punched it in the end zone and the margin closed to 21-15.

However a muffed punt by Katella sealed the outcome.

“Two great teams played tonight,” said Marina coach Jeff Turley. Referring to the performances of Miller and Rush, he called them “Clutch. It was clutch. They came up with the plays when we needed them.”

Marina will host district rival Huntington Beach next Friday at Boswell Field and Katella will host University High of Irvine at Glover on Thursday.

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCORES

• Garden Grove 14, Rancho Alamitos 7.
• Marina 21, Katella 15.
• Artesia 21, Westminster 7.
• Beckman 28, Ocean View 21.
• Edison 24, San Juan Hills 14.
• Western  49, Anaheim 0.
• Huntington Beach 42, Irvine 14.
• Pacifica 42, Woodbridge 23
• Esperanza 42, Loara 10.