MINI BATTLE FOR THE BELL:

COSTA MESA — Big plays decide big games.

Plays like a 60-yard bomb, an interception that is taken back for a score or even a series of defensive plays that stop an important drive on downs.

A play like Jonathan Diego’s 51-yard touchdown run to help Estancia High beat Costa Mesa, 16-15, in their Golden West League freshman football rivalry game on Friday could have been tabbed the “big play”.

Diego, who never played football before this season, ran the ball six times, gained 94 yards and scored twice for the Eagles.

Four of his runs went for 11 yards or more, with his final run being the highlight.

It was fitting for a rivalry game, even if he wasn’t as familiar with it as some.

“It’s the first time I’ve played because I’m a freshman but it feels good,” Diego said. “It feels even better winning. [My teammates] are all freshmen, too, so we’ve all heard about it from other players. It’s a rivalry we all know.”

But eventually, the small and seemingly insignificant decisions come into focus, becoming a turning point in this 40-minute battle on the gridiron.

The decision is easy most of the time. After a touchdown, it’s time to kick the extra point to complete a seven-point play.

But when down by one with 7 minutes, 7 seconds left to play, would most coaches kick it and tie it up? Or would they go for two?

Most of the time, it would seem logical to kick the extra point, tie the game and take your chances with over seven minutes left.

But this was a game that saw eight fumbles, five interceptions and sporadic offensive plays.

It was an ugly game.

“The defense played very good and the offense made enough mistakes for four games. But we’re lucky the defense answered the call,” said Estancia Coach Tim Parsel, whose team improved to 4-5, 2-0 in league. “I’ve never won a game where we have made so many mistakes. Must be pretty lucky, must have had my four-leaf clover.”

Despite the sloppy play and the poor execution, it was also a game decided on one call and a play that was the difference, according to Costa Mesa Coach Bobby Espinosa.

The Mustangs’ Gilbert Quinones scored on a three-yard run to pull Costa Mesa (0-9, 0-2) to within 16-15. When the decision had to be made, Espinosa chose the supposed safe route, electing to kick the extra point and tie the score.

For Espinosa, it would be a play call that he said was the reason for the loss, with the kick missing left and leaving the Mustangs down a point.

“I screwed up,” Espinosa said. “We should’ve went for two. I blew it for the kids. We were getting three, four yards all game and all we needed was two and a half. I told them I take the blame for this whole loss.”

Costa Mesa had big plays too. The Mustangs started with a safety, tackling the Estancia quarterback after he recovered a fumble in his own end zone.

Costa Mesa’s Tyler Sheffner scored in the second quarter. His two-yard run and the PAT gave the Mustangs a 9-0 lead.

Espinosa repeated three different times that his call should have been for a two-point conversion, showing his disappointment but also how such a small, and seemingly easy decision could be magnified, blown up into a huge and pivotal moment and be tabbed the “big play.”

ANDREW SNYDER may be reached at (714) 966-4616.

FIRST QUARTER

CM – Safety, quarterback tackled in end zone, 3:29.

SECOND QUARTER

CM – Sheffner 2 run (Espinoza kick), 3:59.

Est – Diego 11 run (Barron pass from Diego), 0:41.

THIRD QUARTER

Est – Diego 51 run (Carlyle run ), 2:52.

FOURTH QUARTER

CM – Quinones 3 run (kick failed), 7:07.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

Est – Diego, 6-94, 2 TDs; Carlyle, 9-20; Tapia, 5-14; Abernathy, 3-4; De La Torre, 4-2.

CM – Quinones, 9-25, 1 TD; Munoz, 7-22; Sheffner, 12-4, 1 TD; Maloney, 4-1.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

Est – Castaneda, 1-3-1, 6; Diego, 0-4-2.

CM – Maloney, 3-4-0, 51; Sheffner, 3-7-2, 31.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

Est – Tapia, 1-6.

CM – Albers, 4-57; Maloney, 1-15; Marquez, 1-10.