Palos Verdes earns playoff birth with Mira Costa overtime win

by Paul Teetor

Palos Verdes High battled Mira Costa high into overtime in the Bay League final and won on quarterback Ryan Rakowski’s 1-yard touchdown run on the opening possession of overtime. 

The Sea Kings, who ended their regular season with a Bay League record of 3-2 and an overall record of 5-5, earned one of the Bay League’s three automatic playoff berths with the victory. 

Ryan Rakowski’s 1-yard keeper on the first possession in overtime proved to be the difference in Friday’s game against Mira Costa.

In regular time, PV defensive back Evan Aguirre broke up a pass to the back of the end zone for Mira Costa receiver Luke Meeker on Costa’s last-chance, fourth down play.

The key sequence in the game came with PV trailing 13-10 and needing to go 80 yards with one minute and 37 seconds remaining in the game.

Facing a fourth-and-8 on his own 23-yard line, Rakowski scrambled and found running back Andrew Habif for a 30-yard completion.

“I was trying to make a play,” Rakowski said. “It’s fourth-and-8, game’s on the line. I trust my guys and gave them a chance.” Pen