Mira Costa spreads offense in hopes of a Bay League football championship
Senior Nick Carpino, shown, will battle fellow senior Reed Vabrey for playing time at the quarterback position. Photo
Entering his 26th season as head football coach at Mira Costa, Don Morrow is used to adapting his strategy to fit the talent of his team.
Morrow finds a new challenge this season with lighter, quicker linemen and two talented quarterbacks who are fighting for a starting role.
After a third-place finish in the Bay League, Mira Costa reached the CIF-SS Division 6 semifinals last season before falling to Golden Valley 20-18, but a Bay League championship is what the Mustangs are after.
Palos Verdes remains the team to beat after winning seven consecutive Bay League championships. Outside of a three-way tie for first with PV and Redondo in 2016, Mira Costa has not won a title since the beginning of the decade in 2010.
In this year’s preseason poll, Mira Costa is ranked No. 9 in in Division 6 and opens its season with a home game against St. Francis (No. 10, Div. 2) Friday at 7 p.m.
Mustangs battling for playing time will be senior quarterbacks Nick Carpino (6’, 160) and Reed Vabrey (5’10”, 215).
They will have plenty of veteran returners to throw to, including tight end Eddie Burga-Donovan (6’2”, 205) and wide receivers Jackson Fischer (5’9”, 160), Matt Harry (5’9”, 175), Jake Salazar (5’10”, 170) and Aiden Thomasson (6’1”, 180). Fischer, a junior, is the only non-senior of the group.
Mira Costa’s defense will be led by senior linebacker/defensive back Cole Trejo (5’9”, 160).
Linemen playing offense and defense include junior Hank Dunlap (6’1”, 185), seniors Bobby Millea (6’1”, 200) and Ben Wilberding (6’, 205) along with defensive end Ben Sheres (5’10”, 175).
Mira Costa has home games with La Serna (Aug. 31), South Hills (Sept. 21), Palos Verdes (Sept, 28) and Leuzinger (Oct 12).
The team is on the road against El Segundo (Sept. 7), West Torrance (Sept. 14), Peninsula (3 p.m. on Oct. 5), Centennial (Oct. 19) and Redondo (Oct. 26).
Redondo returns home
Redondo will host its first home game of the season Friday when the Sea Hawks take on Division 4 rival Villa Park, the fifth ranked team in the division.
Redondo dropped its first game of the season with a 28-7 loss at Crescenta Valley when Falcon quarterback Cole Doyle rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another.
The Sea Hawks held the Falcons in check during the first half, entering halftime trailing 7-0. But the host team scored twice in the third quarter and once in the fourth to ensure the victory.
Redondo narrowed the margin to 21-7 on an fourth down, 18-yard pass from quarterback Kaden Martin to Drew Wilson with 42 seconds left in the third quarter.
Martin completed 14 of 22 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown.
Redondo’s Players of the Week include junior tight end Drew Wilson (Offense), junior cornerback Markeece Alexander (Defense), sophomore Camden Sten (Special Teams) and sophomore Kale Nilsen (Scout “Eager Beaver”).
“While the result is not what we wanted to start the season, the team gave a good effort,” Redondo head coach Matt Ballard said. “The game started on a positive note as the offense was controlling the clock and marching the ball down the field, while the defense held steady. Crescenta Valley played a great game and taught our young team a few valuable lessons.
“While we were defeated we are not destroyed. Our boys look forward to getting back on the field next week for our home opener against Villa Park. We played a close game against them last year, losing in the final seconds 28-21. This year we look forward to the challenge of avenging our defeat.”