EVERETT — Pride is a powerful thing.
Trevor Irby said it’s what fueled his football team’s defensive dominance Friday in the Mukilteo School District rivalry game at Goddard Stadium. Irby, a senior defensive end, had one of Mariner High’s four sacks and helped apply pressure that led to five interceptions in the Marauders’ 28-17 triumph over the Kamiak Knights in a Western Conference South Division battle.
“We tried to go out there tonight and play with a lot of Mariner pride. That’s our motto: pride,” said Irby, sporting a huge grin after several dozen Mariner students burst onto the field after the final whistle.
With the victory, Mariner (7-1 in division, 7-2 overall) earned the Wesco South No. 2 seed and the chance to host a Class 4A preliminary round playoff game. Four different players scored touchdowns for the Marauders, who play host to the South Puget Sound League North Division No. 3 seed Nov. 2 or Nov. 3.
Receivers Skylar Stormo (four catches, 65 yards, one TD) and Tommy Benz (six catches, 63 yards, one score) were the standouts on offense for Kamiak (6-2, 7-2), which had already clinched a playoff spot. The Knights, who cut the deficit to 10 points midway through the fourth quarter but then gave up a 35-yard punt return for a TD by Joey Dillon, settled for the South No. 3 seed and will travel to play the Narrows League No. 2 seed Nov. 2 or Nov. 3.
Defensive backs Tevin Dillon and Stefan Doerscher had two interceptions apiece for Mariner, which allowed Kamiak to score just three points through three quarters. Kamiak quarterback Jacob Jansen was 15-for-28 for 156 yards, but was picked off five times.
Meanwhile, Mariner gave up just 19 rushing yards on 26 carries to a Kamiak squad that had scored 38 points in each of its previous two games and last season ran all over Mariner.
Mariner defenders “read their keys and everyone did their job carrying out their assignments,” Mariner coach John Ondriezek said. “I think we were quicker than (Kamiak) and the kids really moved well and got to the football.”
Irby and Mychael Tuiasosopo ignited a Mariner defensive line that frustrated Kamiak all night.
“Basically, with our new defense with me and (Tuiasosopo) at the ends, we just try to contain the quarterback and let our teammates do their thing,” Irby said.
“I thought their (D-line) guys did a nice job up front. When you turn the ball over five times — they did a good job getting underneath on some of our routes,” Kamiak coach Dan Mack said.
Mariner intercepted four passes in the first half, but turned only one of them directly into points.
Meanwhile, Mariner did most of its first-half damage on the ground, rushing 23 times for 137 yards as Black (58 yards) and Jones (52) led the way.
Kamiak running back Justin Glenn came into the game with 1,112 rushing yards but gained 23 yards on eight attempts. The Knights scored 14 points in the final quarter but their earlier miscues were too costly.
“We’re gonna get back, look at our mistakes and make some corrections,” said coach Mack.
With several key players fully recovered from injuries, including running back/linebacker Matt Jones (66 rushing yards), Mariner appears to playing its best football entering the postseason.
Said coach Ondriezek, “This is important for the Mariner community to be at home next week and to have a playoff game here, and to go into that playoff game with a win against a good (Kamiak) football team.”
Contact Herald Writer Mike Cane at mcane@heraldnet.com. For more high school sports news, check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
At Goddard Stadium
Kamiak30014—17
Mariner7777—28
M—Black 3 run (Rynkiewicz kick)
K—FG Gaddy 25
M—T. Tuiasosopo 1 run (Rynkiewicz kick)
M—Burns 26 pass from T. Tuiasosopo (Rynkiewicz kick)
K—Stormo 11 pass from Jansen (Benz pass from Jansen)
M—J. Dillon 35 punt return (Rynkiewicz kick)
K—Benz 15 pass from Ruppel (pass failed)
Records—Kamiak 6-2 in division, 7-2 overall. Mariner 7-1, 7-2.
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