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.
