By Alyssa Zucker
Staff Writer
The Mira Costa varsity football team ended their season on Friday Nov. 16 away. They lost to West Torrance High School in which the final score was 49-42 in favor of West.
With the loss, the Mustangs ended their season with an overall record of 9-3 overall. The team finished second in Bay League and made it all the way to the second round of the CIF playoffs.
“It was a great effort,” Coach Don Morrow said. “It’s hard to win with seven turnovers, but they tried. In the end, we had a great season.”
In the first quarter, senior defensive lineman and running back Corey Sanicky scored the first Mustang touchdown of the game. West tied up the game at 7-7 with a touchdown following the Mustang’s score. Senior running back Raphael Lawson-Gayle also scored in the first quarter to give Costa the lead. But once again, West scored to tie up the game ending the quarter at a score of 14-14.
“There was a lot of adrenaline going through my body throughout the entire game,” Lawson-Gayle said. “I felt a lot of pressure, but in the end it is a team effort, and its all about having fun.”
To begin the second quarter, West caught an interception and ran it back for a touchdown to take their first lead of the game at 21-14. The Mustangs answered with a touchdown to tie up the game. West, however, scored again to take the lead at 28-21 going into halftime.
“We had a good season,” senior quarterback Ryan Sweigart said. “We came up short in the playoffs, but I’m proud of how far we have come, despite the many injuries along the way.”
West added to their lead by scoring first in the third quarter. Junior running back Sebastian Franck-Love scored for Costa, cutting West’s lead to 35-28. West scored once more in the quarter to give them a lead 42-28 into the final quarter.
“Despite this tough loss in the second round, it was a satisfying season,” senior cornerback Jack Hadley said. “It was an unforgettable season, with unforgettable coaches and teammates.”
The Mustangs came back in the fourth quarter with a touchdown by Sanicky, his third of the game. West took an advantage of the intercepted pass, and ran it back for a touchdown to make the score 49-35. Sweigart threw a touchdown pass Lawson-Gayle to lessen West’s lead. The game ended with a score of 49-42 in West’s favor advancing them to the third round of CIF playoffs.
“This season was an absolute blessing,” Lawson-Gayle said. “My teammates are like family to me, and the coaching staff is amazing. I will use the things I learned at Costa playing at the next level, and throughout my life.”
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