By Alyssa Zucker
Staff Writer
In a high-scoring trench fight, the Mira Costa football team started Bay League competition off well on Oct. 5 with a 62-42 win over West Torrance High School.
The Mustangs scored 42 unanswered points to come back from an early West lead of 14-0, with senior running back Raphael Lawson-Gayle scoring four touchdowns. The Mustangs’ record is now 3-2 overall and 1-0 in Bay League.
“There was a lot of pressure to keep up with the high score of the game,” senior quarterback Khalil McClain said. “The coaches kept telling me to stay calm and run the offense, and I did just that.”
Despite a foot injury from the prior game, Lawson-Gayle still managed to rush for four touchdowns. He had 114 yards on 22 carries, including a 66-yard carry in the second quarter. Lawson-Gayle also had a pivotal score in the fourth quarter, carrying the ball across the plane on a fourth and goal. With just under 11 minutes left in the game, Costa had a 42-21 lead over West.
“The injury made it really hard to juke out the defense,” Lawson-Gayle said. “However, I knew we had great running backs who were able to pick me up when I wasn’t at my best.”
West had a powerful offense that scored a total of 42 points. West led for the majority of the first half, but the halftime score was 21-21.
“I did not expect West to score two touchdowns so quickly,” junior running back Brandon Mills said. “On the other hand, I did not expect our offense to turn over the ball so deeply in our own territory.”
Costa’s offense picked up its game due to Lawson-Gayle’s condition. Mills had a total of 126 yards with eight carries, two of which resulted in 69-yard and 32-yard touchdowns, respectively.
“You cannot win any game without putting up points on the board,” Mills said. “The best part about our team is that we have so many people who can perform, and everyone’s outstanding plays allow me to make mine.”
Costa’s defense made key plays when the team needed it most. The Mustang defense had three interceptions, two from senior safety Dylan Chen.
“The two interceptions were big in the first half,” Chen said. “They gave our team momentum, which ultimately lead to a score by our offense. With such a fast-paced scoring game, momentum was key on both sides of the ball.”
Senior wide receiver Zach Primm was successful for the Mustangs with over 100 yards receiving and an athletic touchdown catch. Junior running back Sebastian Frank-Love also came up big with a rushing touchdown to help add to the score.
“I am very proud of how the team played.,” coach Don Morrow said. “We were down early in the game, but hung in there for the win. We were kind of skittish in the beginning, but as the game went on, our execution improved.”
Costa plays Palos Verdes High School today away for its second Bay League game. Both teams are coming off of a wins.
“PV is going to be a tough battle,” senior captain linebacker Josh Qerbash said. “It is not going to be an easy game. They are going to be good, physical and well-coached. We’re hopeful that we can win.”
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