Football: WHEW!!

Tony Altobelli

LAGUNA BEACH - C.J. Zuniga simply refused to let Costa Mesa High

lose.

Despite costly turnovers and numerous penalties, the senior tailback

was a one-man show for the Mustangs, scoring the game-winning touchdown

with 20 seconds left, allowing Mesa to escape Laguna Beach High with a

35-29 Pacific Coast League win.

“It was a real nice win, but obviously, we were rather lucky,” said

relieved Mustangs’ Coach Jerry Howell. “That score should not have been

that close with all the opportunities we had. But nevertheless, I was

proud of how our guys fought back against a tough team.”

Zuniga rushed for 287 yards on 37 carries with three touchdowns,

including the game-winner.

“He’s a real special kid,” Howell said. “He never gives up no matter

what’s going on out there.”

With the win, Mesa (7-2, 2-1 in the PCL), ranked No 4 in CIF Southern

Section Division IX will play for a share of the PCL title against Corona

del Mar (3-0 in league), who defeated University, 31-12.

It almost was not to be for the Mustangs, however as a late 10-yard

touchdown run from quarterback Ryan Schissler brought the Artists (3-6,

0-4) back from a 21-7 deficit to lead 29-28 following a successful

two-point conversion.

But the Mustangs fought back. With the ball on the Mustangs’ 32-yard

line, a costly Laguna Beach 15-yard penalty brought the ball out to near

midfield, where from there, quarterback Dave Weir, connected on two of

the three completions each to Sean Ferryman bringing the ball to the

Artists’ 42 with 53 seconds remaining.

A 4-yard run from Weir and a big 21-yard run from Zuniga brought the

ball down to the 8-yard line, where on the next play, Zuniga drove up the

right sideline to score.

With only 20 seconds left in the ball game, Schissler, who threw 12

completions for 259 yards and a touchdown, threw deep down the field

where Weir intercepted the pass Schissler’s third of the game, giving the

Mustangs the win.

Each time the Artists got back in the game, Costa Mesa had an answer.

After the Artists tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, Greg

Stewart returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown, giving the

lead right back to the Mustangs.

Zuniga’s first touchdown, an 11-yard score extended the Mustangs’ lead

to 21-7, before Laguna Beach came back to tie the game at 21-21 early in

the fourth quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Schissler, his second TD

run of the night.

Zuniga gave the lead right back to Costa Mesa on a 1-yard TD run,

making it 28-21, before the late Laguna Beach heroics.

Despite a slow night in the air, Weir managed to rush for 61 yards and

the game’s opening touchdown.

But the hero of the night belongs to Zuniga, whose barreling runs

pinned the Artists into submission. Out of his 37 carries, only one went

for over 30 yards.

The win also closed out the decade sweep for the Mustangs over the

Artists, winning every game of the 1990s.

It’s still anyone’s race in the PCL heading into the final week of the

season.

Estancia and the Mustangs each 2-1 in league, a three-way tie atop the

league standings between all three area teams in the PCL could be

possible. Stay tuned.