Century Quiets Costa Mesa With Tie

NEWPORT BEACH —  Let sleeping dogs lie.

That was the lesson learned Friday night by Costa Mesa’s Dewayne Crenshaw, whose post-game comments from a week ago inspired Century to put forth an effort that was full of bite.

The two teams walked off the field tied, 7-7. Century was disappointed it did not win, Costa Mesa felt fortunate to have scored a fourth-quarter touchdown with 8 minutes 6 seconds left.

The outcome left Costa Mesa (5-2-2, 3-0-1) in control of the Pacific Coast League race. The Mustangs can win their first outright league title next week with a victory over Estancia.

Century (3-4-2, 2-1-1), which shared the title last year with Trabuco Hills, nearly created a three-way tie for first place.

Inspired by Crenshaw’s, “We own Century” comment after a 13-3 victory over Trabuco Hills, a common rallying cry from the Centurion sideline was, “Nobody owns us.”

Costa Mesa Coach Myron Miller was steamed the comment even found its way into print--and more upset that it was repeated twice in the past two days in the paper--but the Centurions were the epitome of grace. When Crenshaw sustained a hip pointer, the Century defense applauded when he made it to his feet. After the game, Crenshaw’s only comment was, “No comment.”

“He was the most sorry guy on the team after he said that,” Miller said.

It motivated Century, though. Trabuco Hills beat them, 24-0, a week before losing to Costa Mesa.

In the end, it was more of a partnership than ownership.

“We got a lot of breaks to come out with a tie,” Miller said.

Century receivers beat Costa Mesa defensive backs all night, but Stanley Villanueva either threw long, or the receivers didn’t run full out on their patterns. He completed four of 15 passes for 83 yards with two interceptions.

Villanueva’s most important completion was with 29 seconds left in the first half, immediately after a fumbled exchange between Crenshaw and quarterback Ryan Taylor after Costa Mesa’s deepest penetration into Century territory. Sal Waltermire recovered the fumble.

Villanueva threw deep to Alejandro Huizar for a 63-yard scoring play. Ignacio Vega added the extra point.

Century played the final 27 minutes without its best player, running back/linebacker Julio Garcia, who sprained his ankle. Century Coach Bill Brown said it made a difference.

“We led, 7-0, in the first half, and lost, 7-0, in the second,” Brown said. “That’s a 14-point swing.”

Costa Mesa wasn’t the same team in the second half. Binh Tran rushed for 106 of his 176 yards as the Mustangs tried to plow over Century. An 80-yard drive--that included Crenshaw’s four-yard gain on fourth and three--ended with Tran’s three-yard scoring run. Bryan Luxembourger’s point-after tied the game.