Costa football defense accounts for first win
Mira Costa’s defense swarms around a Narbonne ball carrier during the Mustangs 7-6 victory over the Gauchos. Photo With the loss of many of his starters from last year’s CIF championship team, Mira Costa head football coach Don Morrow knew his team would have to rely on its defense to keep the Mustangs competitive while the young offense matured. Led by J.R. Tavai, the defense has not disappointed and played a vital role in earning Mira Costa its first win of the season with a 7-6 road victory against Narbonne, the fourth-ranked team in the L.A. City Section. 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…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com