Defense and Special Teams Swing It as Marina Claims 23-10 Victory Over Fountain Valley, Score 23-10 (2025)

Westminster – Boswell Field (WHS)

Marina claimed city bragging rights on Thursday night, using a stingy second-half defense and big plays on special teams to defeat rival Fountain Valley 23-10 at Westminster High. The win pushed the Vikings to 2-1 on the season, while the Barons fell to 1-2.

Quarterback Francis Saporito led the way for Marina, completing 16 of 24 passes for a season-high 171 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score. His poise in the second quarter helped the Vikings overcome back-to-back penalties that left them facing third-and-15. After a short completion to Noah Valdez, Saporito connected with Shea Putney on a 30-yard touchdown strike to give Marina a 14-7 lead.

The Barons responded with a late drive in the first half, reaching the Marina 6-yard line with seconds to go. But linebacker Jackson Moore came up with a sack to force Fountain Valley to settle for a 30-yard Jack Chavez field goal as time expired, trimming the deficit to 14-10 at halftime.

Fountain Valley’s special teams made a key play early in the third quarter when Chavez blocked a Marina field goal attempt. But the Vikings seized momentum shortly after. Cameron Evans broke through to block a punt deep in Barons territory, and when the ball rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Fountain Valley, it went down as a safety to push the lead to 16-10.

Evans wasn’t done. Later in the quarter, he smothered a loose ball after a bad snap on another Fountain Valley punt, setting up Marina at the Barons’ 13-yard line. On the next play, Ben Ramos powered in for a 13-yard touchdown run to stretch the margin to 23-10.

The Marina defense locked in from there, pitching a shutout in the second half and keeping the Barons from mounting a rally. Fountain Valley’s lone touchdown came in the first quarter, when quarterback Isaac Combs scrambled in from six yards out.

“We had a lot of dumb penalties,” Marina coach Charlie TeGantvoort said. “But we play really hard and we’re tough, and if you do those two things, good things happen.”

Saporito echoed the message after the rivalry win. “We definitely want to see improvements,” he said. “But I love our team. I love how hard we go. I love how hard we want it.”

Marina will look to keep the momentum going next week when they continue nonleague play. Fountain Valley will aim to bounce back against St. Margaret’s on the road.