By: Sophia Vaughn
Staff Writer
After losing their first Bay League game last week, the Mira Costa Mustangs proved they are a competitive part of the conference after pouncing on the Peninsula Panthers with a 49-28 victory.
The Mustangs beat the Panthers at Peninsula on October 5th due to Mira Costa’s strong passing game and powerful run game. The team picked up too many penalties, however, that created a bit of a struggle on offense, according to sophomore wide receiver Danny Millea.
“Our offense needs to stay away from penalties that put us in third and fourth in long situations. We had too many false starts and holdings that cost us a lot of yards and a touchdown, “ Millea said.
Costa’s offense started out strong when senior quarterback Nick Carpino passed to sophomore wide receiver Brody McKinnon for the first touchdown of the game. Peninsula quickly responded, however, with a running touchdown, tying the game up 7-7. Carpino’s play action to junior wide receiver Jackson Fischer lead to another Costa touchdown. Carpino’s quarterback keeper lead to a third Mustang touchdown, and senior quarterback Reed Vabrey then entered the game. In a double reverse play, Vabrey passed to Millea for another Costa touchdown. Carpino then came back in as a quarterback and passed to Millea again, and despite two more Peninsula touchdowns throughout the half, Costa had a 35-21 lead going into the locker room.
“I was just thinking about how much time I was going to have on this play and who I was going to throw to after I got the ball because everyone was wide open, “ Vabrey said.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Mustang offense reemerged in the fourth quarter when sophomore running back Kage Geoghegan ran in for the touchdown, making the score 42-21. Another Peninsula touchdown was then quickly answered when Carpino connected with McKinnon for thirty- two yards, closing out the game, with a Costa win of 49-28. The Mustang defense boosted Costa’s performance by recovering two Peninsula fumbles.
“I really wasn’t thinking about the play, “ McKinnon said, “I was just really thinking about the score and how we needed to win, “ McKinnon said.
Mira Costa, now 3-4 for the whole season and 1-1 in the Bay League, will face Leuzinger High School at home next Friday for Costa’s homecoming game. The Mustangs need to limit offensive penalties next week, Carpino said.
“I hope we can win out and I think if we play well we can do it, “ Carpino said.
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