Sage Hill junior Taylor Ross was a menace to the Lancers all night.
Lining up at quarterback and running back, he carried 20 times for 111 yards, including 99 yards on 12 first-half attempts.
He also sparkled on defense. Playing linebacker and safety, he recovered two fumbles, one of which he caused, and made a near-interception.
For good measure, he booted a 36-yard field goal and two conversions and took a roughing the kicker penalty on another field-goal attempt that extended a Lightning possession that resulted in a touchdown.
Looks can apparently be deceiving when it comes to Costa Mesa High’s special teams, specifically its kickoff team. Against Santiago, it appeared the Mustangs opened with an onside kick. But Osso said it was just an unintentionally short kick, perhaps because of nerves from playing in a CIF playoff game. The Cavaliers started with a short field, on Costa Mesa’s 48. Three plays later Brian Perez scored on a 41-yard run.
The Mustangs were successful, however, on their “real” onside kick late in the fourth quarter after Josh Erno scored Costa Mesa’s lone touchdown on a six-yard run.
This time, junior Gilbert Quinones recovered the onside kick.
The strong special teams play of the Sailors had some believing they were on the verge of upsetting a home team in the opening round of the Pac-5 Division playoffs for the second time in three years.
Newport Harbor jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first couple of minutes at Lakewood.
While filling in for the injured Whitaker on special teams, sophomore Buzzy Yokoyama electrified the crowd by returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.
After a Lakewood turnover, Dillan Freiberg converted a 34-yard field goal and the Lakewood faithful couldn’t believe Newport Harbor was leading. The Lancers’ only loss of the season came in the opener on Sept. 4, when they fell, 28-27, at Crenshaw of Los Angeles, which is now ranked No. 3 in the state.
Lakewood bounced back against the Sailors. The Lancers recorded six of the game’s final seven touchdowns to avoid being stunned in the first round.
In 2007, Newport Harbor upset Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, 7-3.
Estancia cleaned up its game against Laguna Hills. After committing 15 penalties in its league finale against Calvary Chapel, the Eagles had just two Friday night. One was a false start in the first half, and the other a holding call in the final minute of the game.
Laguna Hills had nine penalties for 70 yards, but it didn’t seem too significant the way the Hawks were able to move the ball.
Osso said his Mustangs are headed in the right direction.
Part of the reason for his statement came from his belief in the lower-level teams. The Costa Mesa junior varsity team went 5-5. The freshman team was 2-8, but Osso said all but five players on the roster were in their first season of organized football.
— From staff reports
