Mira Costa falls in second round of CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs; PV and North advance

Mira Costa’s Koda Thormodsgaard finds the running tough against the undefeated South Hills defense. Photo

Facing an undefeated South Hills team for a second time this season, Mira Costa narrowed the margin but still fell short ending its 2018 football campaign.

Playing the the CIF Southern Section Division 6 quarterfinals Mira Costa (7-5) lost to visiting South Hills (12-0), the top seeded team in the division, by a score of 34-16. The Huskies defeated the Mustangs 50-20 on Sept. 21.

After South Hills took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, Mira Costa quarterback Nick Carpino connected on two long touchdown passes to pull the Mustangs within one point.

Carpino connected with Brody McKinnon for a 79-yard score then, as the first half was closing, hit Matty Harry for a 59-yard touchdown.

The Mustang opened the second half with a drive that ended with a 34-yard field goal by Luke Personius giving the Mustangs a 16-14 lead but the only one they would have in the game.

In Division 5, Palos Verdes (9-3) earned a come-from-behind victory against top-seeded Aquinas (10-2) in a game played at El Camino College.

With about four minutes remaining in the game and the Sea Kings trailing by four, Jake Jellison connected with Julian Alessi for a 54-yard touchdown. The PV defense did the rest, shutting down Aquinas in its final two possessions.

PV will play at fourth-seeded Glendora (11-1) in the semifinals on Friday.

In the other Division 5 semifinal game, third-seeded Lawndale (10-2) will host second-seeded St. Paul (11-1) on Friday. Lawndale posted its second shutout in the playoffs with a 38-0 victory at Antelope Valley.  The Cardinals have outscored opponents 73-0 in its two playoff games while its defene has allowed a mere 19 points since Oct. 5.

In Division 9, North Torrance (10-2) defeated third-seeded San Marino 33-28 when Stephen Bradford ran for a 7-yard touchdown with seven seconds remaining in the game.

The Saxons will play at Brea Olinda (7-5) in the semifinals on Friday.

For more information, visit cifss.org.

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