Two-minute drill

* Ryan French threw for 201 yards for Costa Mesa in Thursday’s 42-28

loss to Huntington Beach. It was the first time in recent memory a

Mustang quarterback has passed for more than 200 yards.

* James Coder’s three touchdown receptions were the most for a

Newport Harbor High receiver since Spencer Link caught three in last

year’s season opener against Trabuco Hills.

* Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley is 8-1-1 against Marina. He

improves to an impressive 17-1-1 in games following Sailor season

openers.

* Before Corona del Mar’s 44-28 win over Troy Friday, Sea King

caches believed they had a chance to exploit some high Troy punt

snaps by blocking a kick. Sure enough, Matt Burgner blocked a Warrior

punt in the fourth quarter to set up a critical CdM touchdown.

* Marina Coach Mike Dodd told Brinkley before the game the Sailors

hit harder than any other team the Vikings face.

That is quite a compliment considering Marina plays in the same

league as CIF Southern Section Division I powers Los Alamitos and

Edison, and the Vikings play nonleague games against Mission Viejo

and Orange Lutheran.

* Estancia senior Geo Macias caught a 27-yard scoring pass from

quarterback Ryan Watson, but his punting provided another dimension

to the Eagles’ first shutout in nearly four years, a 19-0 win over

Buena Park Saturday night.

Macias pinned the Coyotes on their 1-yard line late in the fourth

quarter with a 40-yard punt. It was his most accurate kick of the

game, but not his longest. Two of Macias’ five punts went for 57 and

51 yards, contributing to his 42.2 average.

Macias takes a few steps before he kicks, hardly ever punting from

the spot where he takes the snap.

“That is designed, even though it might not look like it,” Fertig

said. “He plays soccer and he could be a heck of a rugby player.”

* Before leaving the field at halftime, just after having the

clock run out on its offense with the ball on the 1-yard line, the CdM players huddled near midfield and let out a group yell that Coach

Dick Freeman later said was a release of frustration.

* The 326 rushing yards Costa Mesa allowed against Huntington

Beach are the most since Orange rushed for 376 in 2002, a span of 16

games.

* Sage Hill junior tailback Keya Manshadi, a former receiver, got

his turn at throwing the ball in the third quarter and made the most

of it. After a Lightning timeout, Manshadi took a lateral from

quarterback Jamie McGee and promptly fired to receiver Braden Ross

for a 22-yard gain. The completion was part of an 18-play, 78-yard drive that consumed 11:08 of the second half.

* Costa Mesa Coach Tom Baldwin said French suffered no injuries on

the final play of the game when the quarterback was hit so hard near

the goal line, his helmet flew off.

* Eyeballing an imminent measurement on the field, a handful of

CdM defenders began celebrating what they deemed was a fourth-down

stop against Troy by running toward their bench pointing the other

way.

But, alas, their jubilation was short-lived, as the measurement

revealed the Warriors had picked up the necessary yardage to move the

chains.

* Mesa wide receiver/corner back Evan Hunter missed his second

game due to a slight concussion. He is expected to play Saturday

against Laguna Beach.

* Estancia’s Watson had 96 passing yards, a season high. He

completed 3 of 4 passes while rotating with Nick Cox, who was 5 for

10 for 31 yards. Neither threw an interception.

Fertig said Watson and Cox held up adequately under pressure.

* Estancia (2-1) will have a bye before its Golden West League

opener against visiting Orange (2-1) Oct. 1. The defending league

champion Panthers defeated the Eagles, 48-0, last season, so Fertig,

whose team has won two straight, said the shutout over Buena Park

came at an opportune time.

“We needed to [defeat Buena Park],” Fertig said. “Orange is one of

the best teams in our league.”

* Villanova Prep Coach John Muller was impressed with the

condition of Sage Hill’s field.

“This is professional, junior-college-type stuff,” Muller said.

“Our field has gopher holes on it.”

* Sage Hill Coach Tom Monarch said his team’s first loss, a 21-7

setback against Villanova Prep Friday, may prove beneficial

Monarch said he thought his players let a 42-14 season-opening

victory over Midway Baptist go to their heads and they did not

properly prepare for Villanova Prep.

“I guarantee one thing: You’ll see a much better offense and

defense against Twin Pines,” Monarch said.

* Costa Mesa has not produced a program for its three home games

this season.

* Youth cheerleaders performed before the Newport Harbor game. The

youngsters, who attended a summer cheer camp run by Newport Harbor

cheerleaders, ranged from kindergarten to seventh grade.