PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Marina Slows but Can’t Stop Footman, Esperanza

WESTMINSTER —  Marina’s defense did a solid job of containing Esperanza standout running back Dahrin Footman but couldn’t stop him, and that was the difference as the Aztecs won, 20-13, in a Sunset League game Friday at Westminster High.

Footman, a senior, finished with 180 yards in 33 carries but only had two runs for more than 10 yards. Marina, obviously helped by a strong scouting report, played as many as nine players on the line of scrimmage at times.

Footman was at his best when Esperanza needed to run out the final 2 minutes 59 seconds. He carried six consecutive times for 33 yards and two first downs, preventing Marina from getting another chance.

“According to the (Marina) coach, they knew when we were going to run and when we were going to pass,” said Footman, who has rushed for 1,554 yards this season. “They played us pretty hard and got a few good hits in on me.”

The victory assures Esperanza (6-3, 3-1 in league) of a playoff berth. The Aztecs also remain in second place, a game behind Los Alamitos, the top-ranked team in Orange County.

Esperanza was coming off a 35-32 loss to Los Alamitos last week, and Coach Gary Meek wasn’t sure how his players would respond against Marina.

“It was pretty uninspired but we got the win,” he said. “We came out pretty flat and Marina played us hard.”

Esperanza’s defense was especially hard on Marina quarterback Matt Roberson, who completed five of 21 passes for 113 yards. He did have two passes dropped in a streak of 11 consecutive misses.

Roberson completed a 28-yard scoring pass to Aron Bergman with 2:59 left in the game, but Esperanza turned to Footman and ran out the clock.

Footman started the scoring with an eight-yard run at the 11:53 mark of the second quarter. The Aztecs led, 7-0, at the half.

Esperanza went up, 14-0, when quarterback Chris Stretch scored on a two-yard run on fourth down with 9:54 left in the third quarter.

Marina (6-3, 1-3) finally scored when Mike Williams reached the end zone from one yard with 1:13 left in the third quarter. The touchdown was set up by a 58-yard pass from Roberson to Bergman, who was tackled at the Esperanza 15.

Esperanza scored again when Stretch went six yards around end with 10:27 left in the game.