WESTMINSTER – A fumble recovery inside the 20-yard line and a roughing-the-kicker call as a would-be tying field goal fell short set the scene for Blaine Riederich‘s 1-yard TD push with a little less than 21/2 minutes to play, and visiting Marina held on for a 24-20 win Friday night at Westminster to move to 3-0 for the first time this century.
Noah Holmes caught two touchdown passes and Rand Keidel kicked a 39-yard field goal for the Vikings, who rallied from a 14-point second-quarter deficit with touchdowns just before halftime and on the second half’s opening drive.
Josh Avila ran for 114 of his 130 yards in the first half for the Lions (0-2), who helped Marina’s cause with six major penalties – including two pass interference calls and two personal fouls – that extended Vikings scoring drives and cost themselves a 52-yard gain, to the 10, with time for one last play before halftime.
The Lions were in charge early, driving 80 yards on the opening drive, with Avila scoring from the 1, and it was 14-0 when Noah Melbon hit Isayah Anderson on a 24-yard TD throw with 55 seconds to go in the half.
Holmes took a pitch from Keidel on the ensuing kickoff, taking it to the Lions’ 45, Ian Green found Holmes for 18 yards, and a pass interference penalty in the end zone led to a 13-yard Green-to-Holmes TD toss with 26 seconds left.
Marina went 62 yards to start the second half, with Green connecting with Holmes for a 28-yard score and Riederich on the 2-point conversion to tie the score. Keidel’s field goal provided the lead on the Vikings’ next possession.
Westminster answered, going ahead on a 7-yard Melbon run, but it couldn’t move when it got the ball back with eight minutes to go. Malbon fumbled on fourth-and-1, with Cooper Malerstein recovering.
Keidel was knocked down as his 41-yard field-goal try fell short. The Vikings were given a first down on the 12, and Riederick scored two plays later.
Westminster drove to Marina’s 31, but Caden Snyder intercepted Malbon at the 3, returned it to the 25 and fumbled, with Holmes recovering at the 34 to secure the victory with 56 seconds to go.