Tavai, the reigning Western Division Defensive Player of the Year, led a physical Mustang defense that recorded 19 tackles for losses, sacked Narbonne quarterback Troy Williams five times, created two interceptions and held star running back Noel Rankins to minus five yards on 14 carries.
Mira Costa’s defense preserved a 7-0 second-quarter lead after Derek Largent’s interception set up a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dennis Falcone to Troy Saemann.
With 4 ? minutes left in regulation, Narbonne use some trickeration to score on a 29-yard double-pass play. Going for the lead with a two-point conversion attempt, Rankins was stopped short of the goal line by Mira Costa defensive back Sam Stekol, allowing linebacker Noah Rossi to finish the play with a game-saving tackle.
Despite the low score, Mira Costa’s offense showed signs of improvement, amassing 290 yards against a tough Narbonne squad. In only his second varsity start, Falcone connected on 15-of-28 passes for 178 yards.
Mira Costa (1-2) faces another tough challenge Friday when they travel to face Chaminade (3-0) of the Mission League. Chaminade looks to avenge last year’s 41-19 loss to Mira Costa, when the Mustangs eliminated the Eagles in the second round of the CIF Western Division playoffs.
Chaminade is ranked second in the Western Division behind Serra and has outscored its opponents 116-49 in three games. The Eagles are coming off a 42-13 thrashing of Fairfax which was ranked seventh in the L.A. City Section.
Quarterbacks Logan Scott and Brad Hunt split time and are equally effective running Chaminade’s offense that features running backs Terrell Newby and Tru Jarvis, who carry the workload.
Receiver Ned Hurlbut leads the team in catches while linebacker Sam Mercer anchors the Eagle defense. Chaminade’s special teams are led by highly recruited kicker/punter Matt Goudis.
Redondo loses heartbreaker
Redondo (2-2) rebounded from a sloppy first half to score 17 unanswered points but saw its comeback fall short when Culver City (3-0) remained unbeaten after scoring a last-minute touchdown for a 21-17 victory.
Playing in its first home game of the season after three road contests, Redondo – and the rest of the Sea Hawk faithful – were stunned when Culver City scored on an 80-yard pass play and extended its lead to 14-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Fortunate to be down by only two touchdowns at halftime, Redondo regrouped and capitalized on two Culver City turnovers to tie the score within the first three minutes of the second half.
“I think we underestimated this team and we didn’t play our hardest and were too relaxed about the whole situation,” Redondo running back Ryan Spiwak said. “But at halftime, we came together as a team and decided it was time to play Redondo football. The second half, I saw heart in our team.”
The Sea Hawks cut the lead in half after a Jon Catsavas interception and Hunter Bradshaw’s catch-and-run moved the ball to Culver City’s three-yard line. Deon Williams, who later was carted off the field with a leg injury, scored Redondo’s initial touchdown.
On Culver City’s next possession, Christian Fernandez picked off a pass which led to Spiwak’s 10-yard scamper to tie the score.
Redondo’s defense kept Culver City in check, allowing Sea Hawk quarterback Nick Pope to engineer a nine-minute, 16-play drive which stalled after Redondo had a first-and-ten at the Culver City 14-yard line and the Sea Hawks were forced to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Bradshaw.
After knocking Culver City starting quarterback Jordan Arrington out of the game, the Sea Hawks could not hold the Centaur offense, allowing a six-minute drive that culminated with a game-winning touchdown run from the six-yard line with 46.8 seconds left.
“They came up with a good scheme at the end, faking the run and throwing against our linebackers who were playing the run real hard,” Redondo head coach Gene Simon said. “It was a tough loss. We knew we were a better football team than what we had shown in the first half. A touchdown our last drive would have put the pressure on them to get down the field faster. We had agreed to play overtime so they could be a little patient and work for a field goal. They used the clock well.”
Despite opening its season with three road games, Redondo’s schedule now appears beneficial. The Sea Hawks host Banning (0-3) on Friday and have a bye week the following week before Bay League competition begins.
Banning is a young team that has yet to score this season and is coming off a 26-0 loss to San Fernando. Sergio Ramirez earned his first start as the Pilots’ quarterback last week and, while leading the team in rushing with 80 yards, was only six-of-19 passing for 41 yards and one interception.
Julian Sykes (5-11, 160) is the Pilot’s top receiver and the offensive line, anchored by Miguel Madrigal (6-3, 250), paves the way for running backs P.J. Utu, Jr. (5-9, 160) and Miles Fualau (5-10, 170).
Banning’s defense, led by safeties Austin Olamanu and Sykes, can be a factor as it held San Fernando to only 95 yards total offense, but penalties and turnovers by the inexperienced team has been its own worst enemy.
Redondo hopes to enter the Bay League race on a high note, not only with a victory but with two good weeks on the practice field.
“We’re a little bit behind of where we should be right now,” Spiwak said. “We could be playing better and it all starts on the practice field.”
Returning All-Bay League lineman John Miller is on the same page with Spiwak’s evaluation of Redondo’s team.
“Everybody could be playing better. It starts basically with our heart. We can’t get down on ourselves like we did when it was 14-0. Our teams captains stepped up at halftime and got the team turned around and I think with the extra week of practice, we’ll be polished for a run at the Bay League title. We’re still working for that perfect practice.” ER
