By Eric Brodkin
Staff Writer
On Sept. 16, the Mustangs defeated the West Torrance Warriors in a defensive shutdown, 34-0. According to sophomore safety Eli Cebula, in their first away game of the season, the Mustangs came out of the gates ready to play and never looked back.
“Coming into the game, we expected to play great. After our week one loss, we knew we needed to improve the overall defense, and that’s exactly what we did,” Cebula said. “This game was a test of our preparation, and we exceeded our expectations.”
The first quarter was controlled by the Costa offense, going 14-0 early on. Junior wide receiver Reese Leonard opened the game with a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Nico De La Cruz. A defensive stop gave the Mustangs another opportunity to score. Senior running back Matthew Kraskouskas took advantage of the stop and ran into the end zone for his first touchdown of the night. In the second quarter, the Mustangs did not score as many points with the only touchdown being another rush by Kraskouskas. However, the Mustangs headed into halftime up 21-0.
“I think our offense has a great bond,” De La Cruz said. “We have put in so much work this off season, and that is why we are doing so well.”
With two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown, Kraskouskas was the leading scorer for the Mustangs. According to senior wide receiver Cole Crotty, Kraskouskas was a key component to the Mustangs’ offense. He averaged 114 rushing yards per game and broke through tough tackles, finding open space to run.
“Matty’s a really hard working guy. He puts in the hours with the team and then goes and puts in extra hours in the weight room,” Crotty said. “He’s a baller, and I’m glad he’s on our side of the field.”
The Mustangs added 13 points to their lead and continued to shut out the Warriors. The Warriors’ offense was finally able to move down the field but fell short in the red zone due to a penalty. De La Cruz continued to lead his offense, even though the Mustangs had scored several points.
“I think that the coaches did a great job last week preparing us for the West game,” said Crotty. “We had a really solid defensive game plan, and everyone knew their assignments. I think that was pretty evident considering the result of the game.”
The defense earned its first shutout of the season and played an important role in the blowout game. Senior cornerback Kailer Gaile has been explosive throughout the season, averaging nine tackles per game. Gale and the defense kept West Torrance on its own side of the field for the majority of the game, causing the Warriors to punt on almost every drive.
“After our West game, our defense as a whole felt accomplished,” Cebula said. “Our hard work during the week paid off, and we were able to celebrate.”
The Mustangs add a win to their record as they head into their last non-league game at Villa Park High School at 7 p.m. After a rough loss against St. Francis, the Mustangs were able to bounce back and win three games in a row.
“I think we just have to keep preparing each week,” De La Cruz said. “We can’t get satisfied with just one win; we have to keep working for the results that we want as a team.”
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