ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP EXTRA : Kurien Catches On for 275 Yards as Westminster Wins

WESTMINSTER —  David Kurien caught eight passes for 275 yards and scored twice to lead Westminster to a 15-14 nonleague victory over Marina Friday at Westminster High.

Kurien was the only Westminster player to catch a pass in the game and he made the most of his opportunities against Marina. The senior gave Westminster (3-1) a 7-0 lead with an 88-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Manual Tapia on the second play of the game. The Lions held the lead until the fourth quarter.

Marina (1-3) lost starting quarterback Chasom Brown with an arm injury and center Brett Downing with possible internal injuries in the first half.

As a result, the Vikings started the second half with sophomore Donald Lank at quarterback. After a shaky third quarter during which the Vikings lose a pair of fumbles, Lank led Marina to a pair of fourth-quarter scores. His nine-yard run with 9:42 left to play tied the score. On the sixth play of a 70-yard drive, Lank carried the ball four times for 63 yards.

After recovering a Lion fumble, Marina scored the go-ahead touchdown on Mike Williams’ 24-yard run with 6:22 remaining.

Westminster came back, however. Kurien took a middle screen pass from Tapia and raced down the far sideline for a 73-yard scoring play that tied the score with 3:44 to play.

The Lions decided to go for the victory and Tapia avoided a strong Marina rush, scrambling into the end zone for the two-point conversion that gave Westminster the victory.