Saporito Sparks Marina’s Dominant Redemption Win Against Valencia, Score 35-7 (2025)

Westminster – Boswell Field (WHS)

Marina returned to form in emphatic fashion Friday night, delivering its most complete performance of the season in a 35–7 rout over visiting Valencia at Westminster High’s Boswell Field. The Vikings (5-2, 1-1 Lambda League) rebounded from last week’s narrow 28–21 loss to Sunny Hills with a dominant, wire-to-wire showing on both sides of the ball.

From the opening kickoff, Marina set the tone with a punishing, clock-chewing drive that lasted nearly eight and a half minutes and ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Francis Saporito to Gunnar Mickelson on fourth down. The Vikings never looked back, scoring touchdowns on their next four possessions while their defense suffocated Valencia (1-6, 0-2) into six straight three-and-outs.

Saporito was masterful in command of the offense, completing 7 of 8 passes for 54 yards and a touchdown while adding 62 rushing yards and two more scores—all before halftime. His legs gave Marina the spark early in the second quarter, sprinting around right end for a 25-yard touchdown, then weaving through defenders on a 31-yard scoring run to extend the lead to 21–0.

Running back Ben Ramos kept the momentum rolling in the second half, punching in a 16-yard touchdown run on the Vikings’ opening drive after halftime. Moments later, sophomore Lucas Delgado broke loose for a 40-yard touchdown run, capping the offensive explosion and pushing the score to 35–0 midway through the third quarter.

Marina’s front seven was relentless all night, allowing just 15 total yards through nearly three quarters of play. Defensive linemen Brandon Atchison, Alberto Herrera, and Gage Rinaldi, along with linebackers Jackson Moore and Brayden O’Rourke, anchored a defensive unit that completely shut down the Tigers’ running game, limiting them to just six rushing yards in the first half.

Valencia finally broke the shutout late in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Adrian Hurtado led a 63-yard drive and found Andrew Mendez on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 3:39 left to play.

Saporito finished with three total touchdowns, while Ramos ran for 75 yards and a score. Mickelson added a touchdown reception, and Delgado provided the exclamation point with his 40-yard dash.

Head coach Charlie TeGantvoort praised his team’s focus and physicality after the game, calling it a “redemption week.”

“We felt like we let one get away from us last week,” TeGantvoort said. “Our guys played for each other tonight and showed what kind of team we can be when we play tough and play together.”

The Vikings now find themselves in a four-way tie atop the Lambda League standings, setting up a critical stretch run as they chase another league title. Marina will host Kennedy next Friday in what could prove to be a pivotal matchup in the playoff race.