CHULA VISTA – Mater Dei Catholic High quarterback Jake Marrion could only use one word to describe last night's 17-12 victory over Otay Ranch: unbelievable.

Despite rushing for 30 yards and completing 41 percent of their passes, the Crusaders were able to squeak out a five-point victory at home against a stumbling Mustangs squad.

“It wasn't always pretty,” said Mater Dei Catholic coach Matt White, “but we came away with the victory and that's what matters.”

The Crusaders committed five penalties, punted the ball five times and averaged just 1.2 yards per carry. Starting running back Marcel Pitre carried the ball 14 times but managed only 16 yards rushing.

“We had to (get the win) somehow,” White said. “There are many aspects to the game and we figured out some way to get it done.”

Mater Dei Catholic had the ball with a five-point lead with more than seven minutes remaining in the game. But because of their inability to rush the ball, the Crusaders were forced to punt twice, leaving the door open for Otay Ranch in the waning minutes.

“We just couldn't kill the clock,” White said. “We were trying to, but (the Mustangs) are so big and physical that we just couldn't get the running stuff going.”

Despite the offense's struggles, the defense was able to stop Otay Ranch (5-4-1, 2-3) and pick up the victory.

The win puts Mater Dei Catholic at 5-5 and 3-2 in Mesa League play heading into the postseason. But three weeks ago, if someone had told the Crusaders they would be in this position just a few days away from the playoffs, they wouldn't have believed it.

After suffering a 35-6 loss to Eastlake last month, White said the team had to cancel the junior varsity squad for a week in order to fill out a varsity lineup.

“After the Eastlake game, it was grim,” White said. “But (the players) have got themselves going. They believe in each other and right now we have a great thing going. I'm just glad to have momentum going into the playoffs.”

Since that Oct. 24 loss, Mater Dei Catholic has rattled off three straight wins against Mesa League opponents Bonita Vista, Hilltop and Otay Ranch.

“Nobody thought we could do this,” Marrion said. “Everybody thought we would be the underdogs in this league because we switched leagues, but we're just proving everybody wrong.”