Mariners’ late score disrupts Sultans’ comeback plans
- Updated: October 3, 2015
By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com
IMPERIAL BEACH (10-3-15) — The Santana Sultans traveled to Imperial Beach Friday (Oct.2) to take on the Mariners of Mar Vista in non-league action. Unfortunately the trip didn’t come out the way as planned as the Mariners came out on top 27-21.
The Sultans looked to get out of the gate fast against the Mariners. Mission accomplished as they were able to score on a 10-play drive that spanned a little over two minutes. BOBBY WALLACE who had missed the previous two games due to injury was able to finish the drive off with a 6-yard score and the extra point put the Sultans up 7-0 early.
The lead would be short lived as the Mariners answered with a long 7-play drive of their own which included a 52-yard scamper to tie the score at 7-7. The score would remain tied after the first quarter.
The Mariners in the second quarter would extend their lead with two touchdowns to go up 21-7 thanks to a ground game that the Sultans had no answer for.
Santana, despite being down by two scores looked to get points on the board before the half to cut the deficit going into the locker room. The Sultans would start the drive at their own 42-yard line and thanks to a couple of pass completions along with a personal foul penalty against the Mariners, the Sultans were in business at the Mar Vista 25-yard line.
So with seconds remaining in the half, out trotted the reliable Sultan kicker TIMMY TISCHER to attempt a 42-yarder. Tischer was able to boom the kick through the uprights at the gun to cut the deficit a little closer but the score was still 21-10 in favor of the Mariners.
The third quarter would see the Sultans score again on another field goal, this time a 33-yarder by Timmy Tischer. The drive saw a big dose of Bobby Wallace who on the night rushed for 52-yards on 15 carries and the one score. Included on the drive was a 25-yard scamper by Wallace. The end of the third quarter would see the Sultans inch even closer at 21-13.
Everyone in attendance would get their monies worth as the final quarter would see a fast and furious finish. Santana would start off with the ball and FRANKIE GUTIERREZ would do his thing as he was able to complete 6 passes on the drive. He would also sneak one in from 5-yards out to pull the Sultans within 21-19. Now the Sultans had to go for the 2-point conversion to try and tie the game.
Gutierrez was able to convert as he was able to complete the two point pass to BROCK ELLIS to knot the score at 21-21.
The Mariners would start their drive with about five minutes left in the game and they would march their way down the field, taking almost the entire time and with about :10 seconds to go they would score what would end up being the game winning touchdown. The extra point was no good, so the score was 27-21.
The Sultans would get one more chance, unfortunately there was only :08 remaining. The Mar Vista defense stopped the Sultans the first couple of times which would end the game.
Offensively the Mariners outgained the Sultans by a total of 359-212. All of the yards for the Mariners came through their ground game.
