PREP FOOTBALL ’99 : SUNSET LEAGUE : MARINA

1998 RECORD: 4-6 overall, 1-4 in league

COACH: Mark Rehling (13-26-1 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 4 on offense, 5 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Ray Mietkiewicz, RB, 6-2, 235, Sr.; M.J. Ansel, OT, 6-3, 260, Sr.; Noah Pouono, OG/DE, 6-2, 270, Sr.; Brandon Thornton, FS/WR, 6-2, 190, Sr.; Inoke Tukia, LB, 6-1, 205, Jr.; Aaron Williams, CB/WR, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Joe Gallucci, OG, 6-0, 245, Sr.; John Manley, DL, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Jason Stone, CB/WR, 5-10, 170, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Beau Brown, QB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Adam Heyward, LB, 6-0, 190, So.; Kyle Warren, OL/DL, 6-2, 230, Sr.

OUTLOOK

With the return of all-league running back Mietkiewicz and a solid offensive line anchored by Ansel, the Vikings enter the season with optimism. Mietkiewicz rushed for 1,544 yards last season, tops among returning players in Orange County, and is drawing Division I college interest. Team speed is at an all-time best, Rehling said, with 20 players who run the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds or better. “We have the best athletes that we’ve had in seven or eight years,” Rehling said. An added bonus is the return of quarterback Beau Brown, the starting point guard for the Marina basketball team who quit football after his freshman year to focus on basketball. Brown’s athleticism and field leadership will complement Mietkiewicz in Marina’s veer offense.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 9 vs. Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor HS; 16 vs. Newport Harbor at Westminster HS; 23 at Upland.

Oct. 1 at Westminster; 8 at Mission Viejo; 15 vs. Edison at Westminster HS; 22 vs. Fountain Valley at Westminster HS; 29 at Huntington Beach.

Nov. 4 vs. Esperanza at Valencia HS; 12 vs. Los Alamitos at Westminster HS.