DANE BRENTON (8) fights off the tackle of an Argonauts defender in Marina’s 35-0 win over Garden Grove Friday night in the Big 4 opener for both teams (Orange County Tribune photographs by Christopher Abdelmalek).

By Christopher Abdelmalek

It’s important to try and keep traditions whenever possible. Even though there will be no playoffs at the end of this shortened season, it was fitting to have a Senior Night for the Marina Vikings.

They played host to the Garden Grove Argonauts Friday evening at Boswell Field at Westminster High in the Big 4 League opener for both teams. Each tea came in with a record of 2-1 on the season, but the Vikings would have the stars and the seniors shine bright on this night, beating the Argos 35-0.

The game started out rough for the Argos, turning the ball over on downs on their first possession. The Vikings came out with intensity on defense from the start, disrupting the red and white’s quarterback, Vany Rodriguez, all night long. Seniors, defensive lineman Darren Vasquez and safety Dane Brenton would not allow Rodriguez any freedom throwing the ball.

The Vikings would take a possession of their own to figure things out, punting the ball right back to the Argos after a quick three-and-out. However, Vasquez would put constant pressure on the Argo QB all night long, giving Rodriguez would have no time to throw the ball down field. Brenton was there for the defensive plays. Another three and out set the Vikings up deep in their own territory.

JACK MILLER gets set to unleash a pass for Marina against Garden Grove.

Brantt Riederich, another senior, had a huge rush up the sideline on the first play of this drive, and set the Vikings up just outside of the red zone midway through the first quarter. The drive was finished off by Gavin Dykema with a toss play down the same sideline for a touchdown, putting the Vikings up 7-0. Dykema would finish with two rushing touchdowns on the night.

Brenton would soon receive a touchdown pass from their senior quarterback Jack Miller midway through the second quarter to make it a 14-0 game. All the while he was wreaking havoc on defense as well. Brenton would finish the half off with a beautiful interception of Rodriguez.

At halftime, Marina Vikings Coach Jeff Turley had a special guest speak to the team, DeSean Jackson of the Los Angeles Rams. Jackson gave the team a pep-talk at the break that lit a fire under them even more.

On fire was an understatement. They opened the third quarter with Ayden Lastra taking the kickoff back over 80 yards for the score making it a 21-0 game. That’s something that would have made Jackson proud as a former returner in the NFL. At this point it was just about over for the Argos who once again could not get anything going on offense the entire evening.

Dykema would add his second rushing touchdown shortly after this making it 28-0. Riederich would also join in on the touchdown performance for the night later in the fourth quarter putting the game on ice at 35-0.

Turley was very pleased with his team after the game. “Senior night, you want to see something like this happen, it’s fun to watch them have fun,” he said. “There are so many seniors to talk about, I couldn’t say one was better than the other, they all had their moment tonight.” When asked about Jackson speaking to the team at halftime, “I asked him to make it by and say a few words; it lit a fire.”

The Vikings (3-1) will seek to keep this fire burning next week as they take on Katella High School (2-1) on the road. The Argos (2-2) aim to bounce back next week as well as they take on Segerstrom High School (1-0) at home. Both games are slated for 7 p.m. kickoffs.

FRIDAY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RESULTS

• Ocean View 28, Laguna Beach 21
• Marina 35, Garden Grove 0
• Los Alamitos 63, Huntington Beach 14
• La Quinta 23, Los Amigos 18
• Edison 40, Fountain Valley 0
• Pacifica 36, Valencia 13

SATURDAY

•  Western 39, Anaheim 0