Defense Gets Long Beach Poly a 7-6 Win

Even Marina High School Coach Dave Thompson conceded that Friday night’s CIF Big Five Conference game against Long Beach Poly High School was exciting to watch.

But Thompson would have preferred seeing a lot more of his own offense, and a lot less of Poly’s defense.

Poly held Marina to 56 yards rushing and emerged with a 7-6 victory, its second one-point playoff win in as many games.

Poly will meet Edison for the conference championship next week, marking the fourth time in six years it has qualified for a Southern Section final.

Despite the fact that Poly dominated the statistics, the outcome could have been different. Poly outgained Marina in total offense, 344-156 and also led in first downs, 13-6.

Yet it was Marina with a 6-0 lead until the third quarter. The Sunset League co-champions scored with 20 seconds left in the second quarter following Marina defensive back Keith Laszlo’s interception of a Michael Herring pass.

Four plays later, Marina quarterback Rick Vanderriet (6 of 24 for 98 yards) launched a 45-yard bomb to Steve Jennings. But Marina’s conversion try misfired when the holder bobbled the ball, forcing kicker Ben Lefrancois to attempt a pass to Bill Craft.

Poly’s offense had the ball most of the second half although it was plagued by turnovers the entire game. However, it was the Poly defense that virtually handed it the touchdown when Lolo James picked off a Vanderriet pass at the Marina 14 and returned it to the two.

Then, Poly’s talented junior tailback, Leonard Russell, who had 32 carries for 190 yards, carried it in. Adam Scolaro’s kick was the margin of victory.