WESTMINSTER — When Marina’s defense put the team’s offense in the position to win Thursday night’s season-opening game against Foothill, Vikings first-year starting quarterback Francis Saporito showed he was ready to take command.
Saporito ran for a fourth-quarter touchdown and threw for the game-winning score later in the quarter, giving the Vikings a 13-7, come-from-behind victory over the Knights.
“It’s really nice to be in control sometimes,” said Saporito, who started at running back for Marina last season and stepped into the starting role at quarterback with the graduation of three-year starter Garrett Hunnicutt. “It’s all from God, all just from being a leader and just wanting to get everybody hyped, just to be proud to be a Marina Viking.”
The Vikings (1-0) and Knights (0-1) both went into the contest fielding new starters at multiple skill positions.
Whether it was inexperience, working out the kinks, or perhaps combination of both, neither team could settle into a rhythm and the game was scoreless for almost three quarters.
Foothill running back Aidan Faraj scored the first points of the game on a 20-yard touchdown run halfway through the third quarter.
Marina responded right away, driving 68 yards, with Saporito scoring on a 1-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter to tie the score.
On the ensuing possession, Marina forced the Knights to punt but the Vikings turned the ball over on downs, giving the ball right back to Foothill at its 35 with five minutes remaining in the game.
Foothill drove down the field and was in a position to at least kick a go-ahead field goal, but an interception from senior linebacker Braydon O’Rourke on second-and-6 from the Vikings 25 put the ball back in Saporito’s hands on the Marina 23 with 1:48 remaining.
Saporito ran for 8 yards and then 4 yards before a pass interference penalty against Foothill gave the Vikings a first down at the 50.
Saporito ran for 25 yards on first down and then connected with Carson Hunnicutt for a 25-yard touchdown that proved to be the game winner.
“The best thing about Francis isn’t his ability, it’s his leadership,” Marina coach Charlie TeGantvoort said. “He’s a true, true, true leader and the team follows him without question.”
The Knights still had a chance on the ensuing drive but a sack for a 9-yard loss by defensive end Cameron Evans with 12 second left sealed the victory for the Vikings.
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