Mira Mesa @ Scripps Ranch 

Freshmen Win 28-0
JV Win 31-17
Varsity Win 17-10 

My apologies for being late...each week I try to wrap up the game from Friday night by Saturday afternoon, but we spent the afternoon putting in some wireless remotes and by the time I got around to it we were headed for the SDSU v UNLV game.

On the way down to the game we had a "cowboy" station on and they were playing that song, "...whiskey for my men...beer for my horses...".  I thought the sentiment was appropriate for this week's column.

It's been a long hard fought season.  The Marauders played hard, by strength of schedule, some of the toughest teams in the city, county and state. A recount shows that in our non-league games alone we played: 

• Vista (3-6-0, 1-3-0) (Lost to  RBV) (5th Place - Avocado League)

• Escondido (7-2-1, 5-0-1) (Valley League Champion)
  Ranked 4rd in Div I

• Torrey Pines (9-1-0, 4-1-0) (2nd Place - Palomar League)
  Ranked 3rd in Div I/Ranked 4th in the State

• La Costa Canyon (8-2-0, 5-0-0) (Palomar League Champion) 
  Ranked 2nd in Div I

• Long Beach Poly (9-1-0, 6-0-0) (Conference Champion) 
  Averaged 35 points to 7 points per game.  Only lost to Santa Margarita (Score 7-9) Ranked 8th in the State

We had a bye week, then a strange thing happened...people in the stands were saying they were thankful that we were in league...any other year I'd question it ...sure this was a tough year for Morse and Patrick Henry...most teams have them...but we still had 3 more top teams to play:

• St Augustine (7-3-0, 4-1-0) They'll probably be favored to win DIII.

• Cathedral (5-5-0, 3-2-0) Always a close game.

• Scripps Ranch Falcons (6-4-0, 2-3-0) Our cross-freeway rivals.

But this year was different...each game in league someone else rose to the occasion...each week there was a player that stepped up when it counted...not to win the ballgame in spectacular fashion, but to put some spirit in to those tired horses who had been playing so hard each week of the season...

Saints Game:

At Saints some of the big guns came on strong...#2 RB Jelani Burton had 168 yards on 28 carries, including first-half scoring runs of 33 and 22 yards QB #15 Kevin O'Mary went 9-for-10 in the second-half, for 223 yards and two touchdowns...to WR #4 Simas, WR #3 Ollison, and TE #89 Chandler.

Cathedral Game:

In the first half, the game was a seesaw, with miscues and mishaps.  Then O'Mary started to give the ball to RB #2 Jelani Burton in the second half...and kept giving it to him...he pilled up 131 yards on 15 carries, including runs of 34, 23, 19 and 13 yards in leading Mira Mesa to a 21-20 comeback win.  At least twice during the game #15 Kevin O'Mary also came through on converting 4th and 1. Both players gave props to their big offensive line: Alex, Josh, Dionte, Jeremy, Sean, Josh, George, William, John, AJ

Morse Game

At Morse, the Marauder Offense played well from the start. The O-line was making big holes, moving a lot of folks around, no matter whether it was regulars like Seniors #66 Alex Muckle, 55-Josh Porotesano, #77 AJ Ulutu, or their backups. Sophomore RB #34 Dax Evangelista (2-TDs) and some of the JV players recently brought up, like #33 Jerik Davis got some playing time. Two guys who are very much in the future of this team. I also focused on defense. There was a lot of #22 Eric Shorter, #23 Tanis Anderson, #19 Verry Jackson and #24 Kyle Moore on the field. Also Mr Noname...#1 Brandon Cooper had an impressive start.

Patrick Henry Game

When I first wrote about this game...I can remember thinking just about everyone rose to the occasion and pitched in to get it done...but one name stood out as I remember...#7 Jovon Glasper...all game long the announcer kept announcing him as the tackler...thanks for stepping up...others in the mix were: RB #2 Jelani Burton...WR #3 Josh Ollison...WR #4 Markques Simas...QBs #10 Alex Cann and #15 Kevin O'Mary...Power RB #34 Dax Evangelista...O-Line...(Alex, Josh, Dionte, Jeremy, Sean, Josh, George, William, John, AJ)...DBs #1 Brandon Chambers and #19 Verry Jackson...Kicker #14 Austin Turner... DB/RB #33 Jerik Davis  and LB #32 Darren Jenkins.... "Raynor... Raynor... Raynor"

Scripps Friendship Bowl

When it comes to an end of the season game against Scripps, throw out the record books...whatever's gone before in the season...it's a game of two cross-freeway rivals...the guys on both teams know each other...and with two top QBs like Scripps Ranch's Forcier and Mira Mesa's O'Mary and their receiving corps, you could never count either team out. Both teams played tough all game...and the game was in doubt until the very end...but what capped this game was how the Marauders controlled the ball throughout most of the fourth quarter.

In a 19-play, 88-yard drive that spanned 10 minutes, and 23 seconds of the fourth quarter, the Marauders scored the final touchdown of the game to cap a 17-10 victory over the Scripps Ranch Falcons. But the unusual part of this drive was how it got started and...that it wasn't Section top running back, #2 Jelani Burton in the backfield...

First, recently moved up LB #32 Darren Jenkins recovered a fumble a few seconds into the quarter...then it was all sophomore DB/RB #33 Jerik Davis for 10 minutes, followed by Sophomore Power RB #34 Dax Evangelista for the score.

Summing it up

When I was younger, I was lucky enough to have played on 4 championship teams in different sports...and the thing that strikes me the most is just what I'm seeing in this Marauder team...on all of those teams there were guys that stepped up out of no where and contributed when it counted. 

So, to all our "weary horses" ...and all our new "young horses"...and the men in the trenches that make the holes and do battle every week...well done!!!...for what's gone in the past...you're the ones who've gotten this team here...

But be forewarned...it's no time to rest on past accomplishments and glories...it's a new season...each and every game an eliminator...each and every team thinks they're the best...each is looking forward to winning a Section Championship...

So, heal up with that extra day off, put some of that good smelling balm on sore joints and muscles...tape up a few wounds and joints...and I'll look forward to seeing which of you is going to step up each of the next few weeks to the challenges that lay between you and the Stadium on the 4th...

But for those accomplishments up to this point..."here's to all the men...and their brave horses..." and the great job you've all done this season...now, let's go Marauders, let's BE CHAMPIONS!!!!!