By Alyssa Zucker
Staff Writer
Coming off a tough loss to Palos Verdes, the Mira Costa football team won the Homecoming game against Peninsula High School on Friday Oct. 19, with a final score of 42-28. Costa’s record improves to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in Bay League.
At the end of the first half Costa was down 14-7, but they came out strong in the second half.
“It’s strange that we have had a bad half in every Bay League game,” junior running back Brandon Mills said. “It has nothing to do with our ability, but with the small things we need to correct, like staying on sides, holding on to the ball and lining up correctly.”
In the first quarter there was neither team scored, the Mustangs came close, but with two fumbles, one inside the ten, Costa could not get the ball to cross the plane.
“We had a lot of fumbles in the first half,” coach Don Morrow said. “The key to winning was cleaning up our game in the second half. I am proud of the effort the team showed, especially coming off a tough loss.”
In the beginning of the second quarter senior running back Josh Qerbash scored a touchdown, and with extra the point the score was 7-0 Mustangs. Peninsula then tied up the game at 7-7 with a touchdown.
“We had a sloppy start,” Qerbash said. “Once we found our groove we were able to score at will.”
Senior safety Dylan Chen made an interception on defense, which he ran back for a touchdown. A flag was thrown for unsportsmanlike conduct and the touchdown was called back. Peninsula took advantage of the penalty and scored shortly after, making the score 14-7 in favor of the Panthers.
“We played pretty well in the first half,” senior quarterback Khalil McClain said. “We were executing like we wanted, we just need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot, with all the fumbles.”
However, Costa came out strong in the second half. McClain scored a 52 yard touchdown at the beginning of the third quarter to tie the score at 14. Shortly after that, Qerbash scored the go-ahead touchdown to make the score 21-14, Mustangs. Chen had his second interception of the game in the third quarter. Senior running back Jack Hadley increased the lead with another touchdown, bringing the score to 28-14.
“The touchdown just sealed up the night for me,” Hadley said. “I couldn’t help but smile, thinking I’m one of the luckiest guys on earth.”
The third quarter ended at 28-14 Costa, but at the beginning of the fourth, senior running back Raphael Lawson-Gayle scored a touchdown, to make the score 35-14. Peninsula tried to make a comeback with a touchdown, but that was shortly followed by a Mustang touchdown made by junior running back Sebastian Franck-Love, to make the score 42-21. Peninsula scored the last touchdown of the game to make the final score 42-28.
“We really showed who was the better team in the second half,” Hadley said. “I think my winning might have helped boost morale in the second half. The team was really supportive of me.”
The Mustangs play their second to last Bay League game on Friday Oct. 26 at home against Leuzinger High School.
“We are down to a two game season,” Morrow said. We need to take of business with Leuzinger and Redondo. The best we can hope for is second place.”
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