Mira Costa scored 27 straight points in the second half to secure a 34-24 win at Ventura in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Western Division playoffs Friday night.
Mira Costa (9-2) will host second-seeded North Torrance (9-2) in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Quarterback David Arredondo used his legs and his arm in leading the Mustangs to victory rushing for 96 yards and four touchdowns and going 22 of 35 for 224 yards and one touchdown through the air.
Arredondo tied the score 7-7 with his first rushing touchdown with about seven minutes left in the first quarter, but Ventura reeled off 10 points to take a 17-7 halftime lead.
Mira Costa adjusted to the speed of Ventura’s offense and the Mustang offense took control of the second half.
Arredondo’s second touchdown run and a 41-yard touchdown pass to Chris Brown gave Mira Costa its first lead at 20-17. Arredondo ran for a 6-yard touchdown with about one minute left in the third quarter and his 1-yard run with four minutes left in the game gave the Mustangs a commanding 34-17 lead.
Ventura scored on a pass reception with last than one minute remaining.
Omar Morrison added 98 rushing yards on 15 carries for Mira Costa who will now look for ways to slow down Pioneer League champion North Torrance and its multi-talented quarterback Mique Juarez.
The Saxons routed visiting Agoura 48-14 in their playoff opener with Juarez rushing for 151 yards and five touchdowns on 13 carries and passing for another touchdown.
One of the nation’s top recruits as an outside linebacker, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Juarez has scored 53 touchdowns this season.
Bay League champion and second-seeded Palos Verdes (8-3) ran all over visiting Simi Valley for a 45-9 win and will travel to Pacific/Oxnard on Friday. Pacifica defeated Ocean champion Culver City 45-20.
Lawndale (6-5) also advanced the Western Division quarterfinals drubbing host Buena 40-7. The Cardinals will host top-seeded Calabasas (10-1), a 56-17 winner over visiting Rio Mesa.
Brackets and results are available at cifss.org.
