Some gripping matchups

The fourth week of the prep football season has some intriguing matchups for the locals.

Marina gets a jump on the other three local teams by hosting Colton tonight. On Friday, Ocean View hosts Bolsa Grande, Huntington Beach is at Westminster and in one of the county’s top nonleague match-ups, Edison plays Mater Dei at Santa Ana Bowl.

Tonight’s game:

Colton (1-2) vs. Marina (2-1)

(at Westminster High, 7 p.m.)

There were plenty of positives to come out of Marina’s 37-19 nonleague victory last Friday over host Orange.

The Vikings’ special teams set up some scoring opportunities for the offense which, in turn, took advantage of those opportunities, and the defense did a good job of containing Orange’s star running back, Dejon Deason.

It was a game in which Coach Dan Petrone said his team “finally started to get into a rhythm.”

It also was a game that saw Vikings quarterback Tim Atencio amass more than 300 yards, throw three touchdown passes and rush for a fourth.

What’s more, the victory allowed Marina to post consecutive wins for the first time since a late three-game win streak at the end of the 2001 regular season earned the Vikings a playoff berth.

With two wins so far this season, the Vikings have matched their win total for the three previous seasons.

“We’re happy with the win,” Petrone said. “Our passing game was on, and we saw improvement in our running game, which was nice to see.

“Colton is a pretty physical football team. They’re big up front and good at the skill positions.”

The Yellowjackets have dropped two straight games since opening the season with a 35-20 win over Bloomington. But in each of their losses, they have gone to the wire against Redlands East Valley (19-15) and La Quinta of La Quinta (21-14).

Three key players for Colton are defensive end/tight end Damien Hughes (6-4, 265), free safety Daniel Sorensen (6-4, 210) and lineman Daniel Bernard (6-4, 314).

Hughes has given a verbal commitment to UCLA, Sorensen to BYU and Bernard has a few offers from Division I schools, including Ole Miss, Yellowjackets Coach Harold Strauss said.

Senior Nick Reyes (6-1, 190) has had a “breakout” season at running back, Strauss said.

“From what I’ve seen on film, Marina’s a vastly improved team from last year,” said Strauss, whose Yellowjackets defeated the Vikings last fall. “Their quarterback (Atencio) is a competitor and someone who we need to contain.”

Last year’s score: Yellowjackets 39, Vikings 21

Friday’s games:

Huntington Beach (1-2) vs. Westminster (1-2)

(at Westminster High, 7 p.m.)

Both Huntington Beach and Westminster struggled offensively last weekend, the Oilers in a 13-3 home loss to Long Beach Jordan, the Lions, in a 21-0 shutout home loss to La Habra. Westminster, picked to win the Golden West League, has dropped two-straight beginning with a Sept. 14 loss to Marina. Last year’s score: Lions 34, Oilers 31

Bolsa Grande (2-1) vs. Ocean View (2-1)

(at Ocean View High, 7 p.m.)

Ocean View returned to the win column last week by defeating visiting Century, 21-14. Quarterback Dana Maley rushed for Ocean View’s three touchdowns.

Bolsa Grande picked up its second win by shutting out visiting Costa Mesa in the second half en route to a 22-6 victory.

Last year’s score: Matadors 14, Seahawks 0

Edison (3-1) vs. Mater Dei (3-0)

(at Santa Ana Bowl, 7:30 p.m.)

Edison goes from playing highly ranked Servite one week, to taking on top-ranked Mater Dei, the next.

The Chargers played Servite to a defensive standstill last Friday, although the Friars escaped with a 6-0 victory.

Mater Dei is coming off another impressive win, a 48-8 pasting of Cabrillo of Long Beach. Matt Barkley has been red-hot at quarterback for the Monarchs. In that 48-8 win, he threw for 287 yards and five touchdowns.

“Mater Dei’s a great challenge,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “They really are playing well, have a great quarterback and four really great receivers.

“We need to win the turnover battle, eat up some clock and limit their big plays, in order to win. Their offense is averaging about 50 points a game.”

Last year’s score: Monarchs 21, Chargers 14

FOOTBALL LOGS

27…Diamond Ranch…13

26…San Clemente…17

45…L.A. Jordan…0

0…Servite…6

Friday: vs. Mater Dei

(at Santa Ana Bowl, 7:30 p.m.)

10…L.B. Millikan…22

35…Los Amigos…20

3…L.B. Jordan…13

Friday: vs. Westminster

(at Westminster High)

20…Capo Valley…26

14…Westminster…13

37…Orange…19

Tonight: vs. Colton

(at Westminster High, 7 p.m.)

22…Calvary Chapel…15

14…University…42

21…Century…14

Friday: vs, Bolsa Grande

(at Ocean View High, 7 p.m.)