Mesa owns bell

COSTA MESA — The ringing was oh-so sweet for the Costa Mesa High Mustangs Friday night at Jim Scott Stadium.

When senior defensive lineman Jason Schroeder ragged down Estancia quarterback Alec Kirshner for a 14-yard loss near midfield on the final play of the game, it ended a last-ditch attempted scoring drive by the Eagles and put the exclamation point on a 14-7 victory for the Mustangs.

There was plenty at stake for both schools.

The game was the Orange Coast League opener for the Mustangs and Eagles who — oh, yeah — were battling for something that held much more meaning on this night: The Bell.

Schroeder’s sack set off a wild celebration on the Costa Mesa sideline as Mustang players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans rushed the field. And who could blame them? It’s been five years since the Mustangs have won the Battle for the Bell.

The bell’s absence was the second-longest drought for Costa Mesa since Estancia held it between 1979-85.

“It’s a tremendous feeling,” Costa Mesa Coach Jeremy Osso said amid the hoopla and congratulatory hugs and high-fives. “It’s absolutely great to win this game.”

How great?

“This win means everything,” said senior Brian Waldron.

Last year’s starter at quarterback, Waldron, who played strong safety and saw time at running back Friday, stepped in to assume the quarterback role with 25 seconds left in the third quarter after starting quarterback Todd Davis was injured after being hit.

Davis, who completed his first pass of the night on the play, a modest seven yards to Waldron that gave the Mustangs a first down at their own 49, suffered bruised ribs on the play, Osso said.

“I knew I’d have to step up and lead our team the remainder of the way,” Waldron said. “We did a great job of running the ball and eating up the clock.

“This win is amazing. Costa Mesa has been waiting [five] years for this and it’s really sweet.”

The Mustangs never trailed in the game, not after running the ball right down the field on their first possession for the night’s opening score. A 71-yard drive ended when senior running back Christian Argumedo burst into the end zone from two yards out. Senior Hector Solis’ kick gave the Mustangs a 7-0 lead with 5:07 left in the first quarter.

Costa Mesa (2-5, 1-0 in league) rushed for 116 yards in the first quarter and Davis didn’t attempt a pass in the opening half until just eight seconds before intermission.

Estancia (2-5, 0-1) had just eight plays total 35 yards in the first quarter but the Eagles were able to grind out a clock-eating drive at the outset of the second quarter, one that took up 9:29, to get even.

The 82-yard march culminated with Kirshner hitting sophomore tight end Omar Gutierrez with a nine-yard touchdown pass. Senior Eli Diego provided the point-after to tie the score, 7-7, with 2:31 left in the half.

The Eagles were able to keep the scoring drive alive by converting on a pair of fourth-down plays. The first saw Kirshner keep for two yards on a fourth-and-one play at midfield. Kirshner also had a hand in the second when he and Diego hooked up on a 16-yard pass play on fourth-and-two to put the ball at the nine.

“I was real proud of the way our kids fought tonight,” Estancia Coach Mike Bargas said. “We were sluggish in the first half but we kept on fighting and we were in the game until the end.

“You hate to lost a game like this and it’s a tough loss. It’s bittersweet because we worked our tails off. Costa Mesa did, too.”

Costa Mesa chewed up 8:08 of the clock between the end of the third quarter to the midway point of the fourth quarter, to score the winning touchdown. The Mustangs rode the legs of senior back Antwon Byrd who during the drive, went over the 100-yard mark when he gained 16 yards on a first-down play to put the Mustangs at the Costa Mesa 35-yard line.

Byrd also had consecutive runs that covered 10 yards down to the one later in the drive and Argumedo again did the scoring honors with a one-yard push up the middle on third-and-goal. Solis’ kick gave Costa Mesa a 14-7 lead with six minutes to play.

Byrd went on to lead all rushers with 177 yards on 25 carries. His effort came one week after he rushed for 175 yards and scored three touchdowns as Costa Mesa won its first game by beating Century.

“Antwon had another fantastic game,” Osso said. “He’s not always going to break a long one for a TD but most important for us, he had some big runs and that helped us move the chains and kept the clock moving.”

COSTA MESA 14, ESTANCIA 7

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CM - 7 0 0 7 - 14

Est - 0 7 0 0 - 7

FIRST QUARTER

CM – Argumedo 2 run (Solis kick), 5:07.

SECOND QUARTER

Est – O. Gutierrez 9 pass from Kirchner (Diego kick), 2:31.

FOURTH QUARTER

CM – Argumedo 1 run (Solis kick), 6:00.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CM – Byrd 25-177; Gemayel 5-39; Argumedo 10-37, 2 TDs; Pederson 4-10; Waldron 3-3; Davis 4-minus 14; Farthing, 2-8.

Est – Mendez 15-23; Kirshner 7-21.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CM – Davis 1-9-0, 9.

Est – Kirshner 7-7-0, 78; R. Gutierrez 0-1-1.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

CM – Waldron 1-9.

Est – Diego 3-35; Moreno 3-34; O. Gutierrez 1-9, 1 TD.