Unbeaten Mar Vista Rolls Over Monte Vista 44-0

The most noteworthy moment in Mar Vista High football history may have occured in 1989, when defender Eugene Alim registered his 22nd interception to equal a CIF San Diego Section career mark.
 
A full generation later, despite an occasional league title here or there, the 2011 edition of the Mariners remains on track to become the best squad in school history.
 
On Friday, Mar Vista's vaunted double-wing attack grinded to the tune of 283 rushing yards and five touchdowns, waltzing past Monte Vista 44-0 in nonleague action at Monarchs Stadium in Spring Valley.
 
The disrepected Mariners (3-0), the lone undefeated team in the county not included even among the honorable mention listings in the two major media polls, continue to make a case after posting their second consecutive shutout.

The turning point came late in the second quarter when a smackdown hit by Mar Vista outside linebacker Adrian Iriate jarred the ball loose, with Landon Clark making the scoop and racing 56 yards for the score to produce a 16-0 lead with 46 seconds left in the half.
 
"Adrian just hit him—he's an animal—then I just ran for my life," said Clark, a defensive end. "When I was little, I would always land on the ball, but this time, I went, 'nah, I gotta pick it up' because I knew I could score."

It may be the longest run of Clark's career.

"It felt like Madden (the video game)," the senior added. "I thought I was going so slow and I knew Monte Vista had players right on me."

Iriate realized he needed to make a quick adjustment at the snap of the ball to make a play.
 
"I was supposed to blitz, but I noticed the running back go outside," noted Iriate. "I jumped on it, made him fumble and my boy took it in."

Leading the Mar Vista defense was senior Lashon Riggens, who registered 10 tackles and forced a fumble, leaving Monte Vista with just 89 yards in total offense.

"Every day in practice, our scout offense goes hard—the main reason why our defense is so good," said Riggens. "We just go hard and shut it down."

Mar Vista took advantage of the temporary absence of Monte Vista defender Messai Small, who had his ankle rolled on while going for a fumble.

"We knew No. 79 (Small) was one of their best ends," said senior center Adrian Guerrerro, an under-the-radar small-college prospect because he missed his junior year of football. "Once we saw that he was out, we just took it to the weaker side by using our strength."
 
The Mariners offensive line of LT Sean Sullivan, LG Emerson Gomez, Guerrerro, RG Anthony Gonzales, RT Andres Preciedo and Ricardo Moriel demonstrated how to control a quicker opponent.

"When you have strength vs. speed, speed can win, but that's only in a (street) fight," noted Guerrerro. "This was a fight, yeah, but a different type of fight, where you have to be able to be fast and strong, so we were able to put up 44 points on them and shut them out."

The line play allowed running backs Jimmie Hill (12 carries, 126 yards, two TDs) and Jordan Lertique (11-77, three TDs) to dominate on the ground.
 
Both bounced through the line for long scoring runs in the third period, as Lertique raced 38 yards for a 24-0 lead, then Hill romped 60 yards to provide a 30-point cushion.

Meanwhile, Monte Vista (1-3) was limited to a mere six first downs, including just one—by penalty—in the second half.

MARINERS 44, MONARCHS 0
Mar Vista (3-0)       0   16   14  14   —   44
Monte Vista (1-3)    0    0     0    0   —    0
 
MarV – Iertique 1 run (Hill run)
MarV – Clark 56 fumble return (Hill run)
MarV – Iertique 38 run (Iriate run)
MarV – Hill 60 run (run failed)
MarV – Iertique 1 run (Moriel kick)
MarV – Hill 24 run (Moriel kick)