Cavaliers ride Horses, but the Mustangs were No Easy Ride.
by Pat Lynch '59
The Cavs won in the end, 27-20; but the Mustangs were the heroes of the night, bucking, kicking, pushing to the last second, and almost throwing the mighty Cavaliers out of the saddle.
Ranked a hundred places behind Serra, Mira Costa was supposed to be a let-up in the Cavalier's rugged preseason schedule. After holding off Notre Dame and Long Beach Poly, fans were predicting that Friday night would be a night of webgems: long, gymnastic runs, ballistic pass plays, tooth-rattling tackles. It was that kind of night, but a lot of the webgems belonged to Mira Costa.
The Mustangs won the toss and deferred. Serra got no chance to return a deep kick off. Two ugly plays, then, on third down, Greene's pass was too high for the intended receiver, but just right for Mira Costa's safety. Intercepted and returned to the Serra 29 with only forty five seconds elapsed.
Four running plays later, Mira Costa scored on a fifteen yard scamper by Kahlil McClain, standing-in at quarterback for Costa's regular QB. PAT good. Mira Costa 7-Serra 0 after two minutes. Oh, well, thought the Cavalier nation, a fluke. Let's see:
Mira Costa again kicked the ball through the end zone, and Serra again started at its own twenty. Two good runs were followed by a sack, and the Cavs, facing third and seven, were looking a little flat. Greene reared back and threw to Darrell Furey, who caught the ball at the 30 between two Mustang defenders, and ran it in for a 67-yard TD. The extra point try was blocked. Serra 6 - Mira Costa 7 at 7:51 in the first quarter.
Serra's kickoff, into the onshore wind, was fielded at the ten and returned to the 30. Mira Costa continued running on every play and averaging four yards or better. A fumble, although recovered by Mira Costa, broke their rhythm, and led to the first punt of the game at 3:49 in the first.
Serra.kept the ball for the remainder of the quarter, Greene and Bateman turning in a couple of those dazzling zig and zag runs that substitute for brute power in the Serra offence, but Serra's first punt ended the quarter.
Three lackluster series ended in punts, Costa to Serra, Serra to Costa, Costa to Serra, then came the action. A great pass to Marques Rodgers over the middle, two runs and Serra was at the Mustang six. Jalen Green rolled out to pass, stretched out the defense and sashayed into the end zone for the first lead change of the game. Serra's PAT as good, Serra 13 Mira Costa 7 with 4:17 left in the half.
Serra's kickoff again came down near the ten. Mira Costa ran the receiver reverse, Raphael Lawson-Gayle faked the hand off, went into hyperdrive and ran through Serra coverage 91 yards without being touched. PAT good. Serra held the lead for just fifteen seconds. Mira Costa 14-Serra 20.
Serra fumbled to Mira Costa on the first play after the kick off, and Mira Costa continued running Serra into the ground: Five plays, 45 yards and a third touch down. Critically, the PAT went wide, Mira Costa 20, Serra 13 with 1:13 left in the half.
Now it was the Cavs' turn for an instant turn around. Mira Costa squibbed the kick off, Adore Jackson fielded the ball at the Serra 25 an a perfect bounce and ran right, left and center through the Mustang kick coverage until he was run out of bounds at the 14. Serra misfired on two plays, then Bateman made a fine catch of a Greene dart at the two, giving Serra a critical first. Greene scored on the next play with a nifty fake right and cut left. The PAT was good and the teams were back where they started, tied, 20-20 at half.
Starting the second half at its own twenty five, Mira Costa mounted a powerful, patient land offensive, twelve plays spanning nine minutes, that took them to the Serra ten. Finally, the Cavalier defense stiffened, fourth and one at the ten, the Mustangs sent in their field goal team. The play, either a fake or a botched hold, was smothered. Serra took over at the 20 with 3 and a half left in the third.
Serra then mounted a nice drive mostly on the ground, reaching the Mira Costa fifteen. On the ninth play, Mira Costa mobbed Greene as he attempted to pass. What looked from the stands like intentional grounding was ruled a fumble or an interception. Either way it was Mira Costa's ball at the Serra 28, and good drive was stifled. A minute remained in the fourth quarter.
The ball began moving back toward the Serra goal line in the same 4- and 5-yard bites. All night long, the Serra faithful had been looking for a tooth loosening hit like the one that turned the Notre Dame game around, and at 7:40 of the fourth, they finally got their wish. The ball came loose and Serra finally had a fumble recovery.
Serra came alive. Jalen Greene zigged, zagged and spun for ten. Then another fabulous Cavalier run to the Mira Costa 20. A block in the back penalty moved Serra back to the 30. Marques Rodgers got the corner and ran to the ten. Malik Robertson shot down to the one. Greene taking the ball from the T for the first time all night, added the final yard. The third and final lead change: Serra ahead 27-20 with six ten to play.
The game was far from over. Mira Costa hadn't thrown a pass all night and rarely gained more then ten yards at a time. Serra wasn't fooled the second time by the fake reverse, and the Mustangs had to start at their own eighteen. Either the Mustangs dug deep or the Cavaliers let up a little; either way the Mustangs could not be stopped, only slowed. And slowing was critical. After ten plays, Mira Costa was at the Serra fifteen, with sixty seconds on the clock. Costa called time.
Dive over guard, gained only two to the thirteen. Fifty five seconds, second time out.
Pitch out, smothered by the Serra front line at the 14, third and last time out, 47.2 seconds remaining.
McClain, for the first time in the game, faded to pass, Inoke Raikadroka, literally carrying his blocker on one shoulder, smashes in and nails McClain for another loss. 32 seconds. Third and twenty.
McClain in the shotgun. Low snap, McClain picks it up and tries to improvise. Fighting like a legionnaire, he finally goes down. Change of possession came with ten seconds remaining, and the Cavs remain undefeated despite a really heroic fight from the Mira Costa Mustangs. Hats off.
Next week, the Cavs face the Banning Pilots at home. The Pilots beat Hamilton on Friday, their first win on the season. Down the road is Narbonne. Narbonne trounced Long Beach Poly on Friday, 56-0. Who could tell that the Cavs' victory would have taken all the heart out of this year's Jackrabbits?
