Mariner quarter back Jordan Garneau is gang tackled by five Lake Stevens defenders. 
The Vikings defeated the Marauders 18-14 last Friday night in their season opener.

Lake’s undersized and inexperienced defensive line stepped up to shut out Mariner’s offense in the final three quarters to allow the Vikings to post an 18-14 win in the latter’s season and home opener on Sept. 4.

After Mariner’s sophomore running back KeiVarae Russell notched his second long touchdown run of the game to give his team a 14-7 lead with 2:28 left in the second quarter, Lake’s D buckled down to hold the Marauders to 114 net yards and just 6 first downs thereafter.

As for the Viking secondary, no problem there -- Lake held Mariner’s inept passing game to 1 of 13 completions, for 3 yards, while picking off three of QB Josh Thompson’s tosses (two by Chameron Lackey, one by Brennan Frost, while a fourth pick, by Jason Mendel, was negated by a disputed Viking penalty).

Let’s get some horrific news out of the way here.  Lake suffered a devastating blow when Duke Dolphin, expected to supply a major share of the Viking offense this season, tore his ACL in pre-season practice and is out for the season.  Dolphin, a versatile all-around talent, had been counted on to lead the Vikings to a second straight Playoff run.  Furthermore, Lake will also be without the services this season of Aaron Britton due to medical issues and of brothers Kaleena and Sage Richardson, who moved out of the District.

2009 got off to a scintillating start when, on Lake’s first play from scrimmage, Frost swept left 80 yards for a touchdown, sprung free by blocks by Lackey, Garek Stuart, and a final key block 15 yards downfield by Brandon Preslar.  Arvid Isaksen converted the PAT kick to give Lake the lead at 7-0 with 7:07 left in the first quarter.

Russell, an explosive runner with a quick first couple of steps, answered that with a 44-yard touchdown at 5:55 of the quarter, and on Mariner’s next possession he went 72 yards for another score to make it 14-7 at 2:28 (Jakub Rynkiewicz converted both PAT kicks).

Lake regained the lead at 8:51 before halftime when junior QB Bryson Daggettfound Preslar all alone deep along the left sideline for a 53-yard touchdown completion.  The PAT conversion turned into a two-pointer for Lake when Daggett took a high snap, scrambled around, and tossed to Isaksen who juked his way into the end zone.  15-14 Lake.

Lake struggled in the red zone on three subsequent occasions, producing only Isaksen’s 21-yard field goal at 9:04 of the third quarter (he missed another 21-yarder from an extreme left angle at 3:18 of the quarter, when the ball banged off the left upright).

But the Viking defense was able to hold off any Marauder threats after that.   Mariner advanced only as far as its own 39 in the third quarter, and to the Viking 43 in the fourth, thanks in large part to Lake’s three interceptions after halftime.

Daggett, taking over at quarterback for Nick Baker, who last season smashed nearly every passing record in school history, completed 15 of 26 passes (with two interceptions) for 212 yards in his debut.  Preslar’s 7 catches covered 139 yards, while Isaksen’s 6 receptions were good for 48 yards.

Leading Viking tacklers were Korey Young with 12, and 10 apiece by Jordan Eckstrom, Lackey, and Chase Crowley.