CHULA VISTACHULA VISTA — Mar Vista really embraced the spoiler role Friday night.
The Mariners not only spoiled Castle Park’s homecoming, but their 27-21 come-from-behind victory severely damaged the Trojans league title hopes and kept their own hopes alive.
Both teams could actually share the league title if Castle Park can upend Chula Vista and Mar Vista wins against San Ysidro. That scenario would throw the Metro Pacific into a three-way tie.
But, believe it or not, it wasn’t even a shot at league was on their mind, the Mariners (4-5 overall, 1-1) were celebrating a great comeback.
Trailing 21-6 midway through the second quarter, Mar Vista scored 21 unanswered points to stun the Land of Troy celebration.
“That was just awesome,” said Mariners’ head coach David Moore. “This was a life lesson in resiliency. It says a lot about them. I’m so proud of them.”
Mar Vista opened the scoring early when quarterback Alex Wojcik hit Porter Fielding from 12-yards out to cap a nine-play, 80-yard drive. It was Fielding’s first reception and TD.
“(Porter’s) been in our receiving corps all year,” said Wojcik of the junior receiver who is listed erroneously as a center on the roster. “I’m really happy for him.”
But over much of the first half Castle Park (3-5, 1-1) dominated. They outgained Mar Vista, 198-33, in yards rushing in the first half. They opened up a 21-6 lead behind TD runs of eight and four yards by Jeremiah Simler and another five-yard score by Jalen Hopkins.
But innocently, before intermission, the Mariners struck back.
Wojcik, who needed 132 yards ing to go over 2,000 yards for the season, went 3 for 3 on the drive to cut the lead to nine. He hit Erik Garcia for the nine-yard TD.
“I was optimistic; we were only down by nine, barely a touchdown,” said Wojcik, who finished the night completing 8-of-14 for 173 yards and three TDs. “We just had to stick to it.”
In the second half, the Mar Vista defense ed the fray, holding the Trojans to just 56-yards total offense after racking up 235 in the first 24 minutes.
“Our defense really started to tighten up, and we made a few adjustments,” said Moore.
Wojcik helped his team find a pair of unanswered scores in the second half.
First, Demarco Wright (19 carries, 110 yards) scored from 15 yards out to cap a 97-yard, 13-play drive in the third quarter.
Then, Wojcik hit the game-winner in their first drive of the fourth quarter, hitting Garcia for his second TD of the night from the 11.
“We really kept our composure,” said Wojcik, who also ran in a two-point coversion. “I trusted my teammates we could do it and they trusted in me.”
Farmer is a freelance writer.
Mar Vista 27, Castle Park 21
Mar Vista 6 6 7 8 — 27
Castle Park 24 7 0 0 — 21
MV — Fielding 12 from Wojcik (kick failed)
— Simler 8 run (Cobos kick)
— Hopkins 5 run (Cobos kick)
— Simler 4 run (Cobos kick)
MV — Garcia 9 from Wojcik ( failed)
MV — Wright 15 run (Cisneros kick)
MV — Garcia 11 from Wojcik (Wojcik run)
