By Sandor Kopitz
Staff Writer
In the third Bay League game of the year, the Mira Costa Mustangs defeated the Palos Verdes Peninsula Panthers 44-8 on Oct. 29, remaining undefeated in Bay League, and now have a 5-3 overall record this season.
The game started off fast. Senior Geoff La Pointe returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown only a minute into the game. Costa dominated the field from this play to the end of the game.
The Mustangs regained the ball and quickly got their running game started again after their first touchdown. Senior running back Deon Morris made contributions early in the game. He had two big runs, both over 30 yards. On the second play he caught a pass and found the end zone, putting Costa up 14-0.
“[The running game] had been a struggle for us in previous games. In the West and Peninsula games it gave us a lot more room for running,” Costa football coach Don Morrow said.
Morris had nine carries and totaled 139 yards in the game. He ran the ball consistently and helped with Costa’s success against the Panthers’ defense.
“Our offensive line did all of the work for me; I give full credit to them. The holes were just wide open, and I was able to burst through them at the right times and get out in space for a few good plays. I’m glad to have helped the team,” Morris said.
Junior quarterback Christian Rogers started his third game this season and got his third win. Costa has been relying on running the ball and, according to Morrow, Rogers has been able to run the offense and keep the flow of the game steady.
“Christian has run the offense really well. We haven’t asked him to do that much, but what we have asked him to do, he has done really well.” Morrow said.
“He has completed 70 percent of his passes, and he only has one turnover, which was a fluke against PV. We are going to give him more and more each week and expand the offense for him.”
Rogers was consistently successful in passing and threw for two touchdowns and 169 yards. He was able to hit a wide open senior tight end Derek Largent for a 41-yard score in the second quarter. Rogers also connected with senior wide receiver Sam Stekol on the same drive prior to the touchdown, moving the chains 40 more yards down the field.
“Basically our powerful running game makes teams respect us by bringing extra guys up in the box, and then it makes it a lot easier to pass, particularly in play-action situations,” Rodgers said. “It just fools the defense for enough time that we can get something going down the field and, luckily, we were able to connect on a bunch of them.”
Costa had a lead of 30-0 at halftime. Senior Tajee Mobley and junior Stephen Giovati each scored a touchdown in the second half as the running game continued to pressure the Panthers into giving up several opportunities for the Mustangs.
“We would really like to become a balanced offense. We have always done our best work when we are a balanced team,” Morrow said.
Costa will to take on Leuzinger High School at Waller Stadium on Nov. 12. They hope to remain undefeated in Bay League for the third year in a row.
“We’ll be prepping all week for Leuzinger. Hopefully, seeing film of them will help us get used to the looks that they give on both the defense and offense. With that, we should be prepared and know what to expect going in,” Rogers said.
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