The Mira Costa varsity football team had their first loss of Bay League on Friday, Oct. 12 at Palos Verdes High School. The score at the end of the game was 48-13 in the Sea Kings’ favor.
Both teams now have 1-1 records continuing into their third Bay League game and share an overall 4-3 record.
“I felt the team played very hard,” coach Don Morrow said. “I give Palos Verdes all the credit in the world for their performance. They played great and took advantage of every opportunity given to them.”
Costa had a total of 112 total yards throughout the game. Senior running back Raphael Lawson-Gayle led the team with 50 rushing yards, on 13 carries. He also caught a 47 yard touchdown pass.
“I felt like we were out of the game from the beginning,” Lawson-Gayle said. “We were not as fired up for this game as we were in the previous games.”
With approximately three minutes left in the first quarter, junior running back Brandon Mills scored the first touchdown of the game. However, a blocked kick for the conversion made the score 38-6 which was the score at the end of the first half.
“Every team has their losses,” Mills said. “This loss had nothing to do with injuries on the field, or sidelines, but rather a lack of heart our team showed.”
After an uneventful second quarter, the third quarter started with Lawson-Gayle catching the second touchdown of the game, thrown by senior quarterback Khalil McClain. With the extra point earned the score became 38-13. McClain had nine passes throughout the game and threw a total of 145 yards.
“That game is history,” Mills said. “We can only look forward. Like my coach always says ‘those who mourn on the past, are destined to repeat it.’”
Palos Verdes’ senior receiver Matt Lopes had a total of 203 yards, two touchdowns and 16 carries. Palos Verdes senior kicker Michael Tulchin hit a 55-yard field goal, for his own personal best. The majority of the Sea Kings’ points were scored in the first half as only 10 points were scorer in the second half.
“Physically we were a better team than PV,” Lawson-Gayle said. “They played with more heart. But we played much harder in the second half, giving them a better game.”
Costa’s homecoming game will be held on Friday, Oct. 19 at Waller Stadium. The Mustangs play Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. Both teams have a 1-1 record in Bay League thus far.
“All we can do is hit the film room and practice extremely hard to get ready for the next game,” senior captain Josh Qerbash said. “Hopefully we can come out with the win in the Homecoming game.”
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