Two-minute drill

The Bell trophy sat alone at midfield, waiting, it seemed, for someone to make use of it.

Costa Mesa High football player Max Cederquist finally did.

Just moments after Costa Mesa had defeated Estancia, 14-7, to reclaim the coveted prize that goes to the winner of the annual Battle for the Bell contest between the two Orange Coast League rivals Friday at Estancia, the Mustangs’ senior lineman trotted away from Costa Mesa’s wild celebration and headed toward the Bell. He rang it vigorously and the sound brought another roar from Mustangs players, cheerleaders and fans alike.

By winning, Costa Mesa captured the Bell for the first time since 2003. The Mustangs had held the Bell captive for three years (2001-03) before Estancia went on to win the next four games leading up to Friday’s clash.

Estancia’s four-year hold on the Bell was the second-longest in the series, topped only by the school’s seven-year grip it held on the trophy from 1979 to 1985.

As the Bell presentation took place at midfield, where the Mustangs knelt before their just-earned hardware, tears streamed down the face of Costa Mesa junior lineman Corbin Kay.

“Winning this game means so much to these kids,” said Costa Mesa Coach Jeremy Osso, who also played and worked as an assistant coach at Estancia. “You can see how much it means, just by looking at them. This is a great night for Costa Mesa football.”

Looking around the Costa Mesa celebration, players and students intermingled joyously on the turf at Jim Scott Stadium, exchanging high-fives and hugs.

The Costa Mesa players and coaches also went over to shake the hand of Jim Scott Sr., the man whose name anoints the first-year stadium.

Junior Brian Waldron, who ran the ball, played strong safety and then filled in at quarterback in the third quarter for injured starter Todd Davis, said it best.

“This win means everything,” he said. “Costa Mesa has waited five years to get the Bell back, and we did it.”

Then, the Mustangs were off to partake in the traditional postgame rib dinner that awaits the annual winner.

• Newport Harbor High came close to starting Sunset League play with a victory for the third straight season.

The Sailors lost Friday, 14-7, to Edison, which moved up from No. 6 to No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division coaches’ poll released Monday .

“We battled,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “Unfortunately, we ended up on the wrong end of it.”

The Sailors (4-2, 0-1 in league) held the Chargers (5-1, 1-0) scoreless in the second half at Orange Coast College.

But Edison blanked Newport Harbor as well in the final 24 minutes.

The Sailors dodged a bullet when Edison missed a 37-yard field goal, which would’ve given the Chargers a 10-point lead with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.

It was the second 37-yard field goal Edison missed, the other was with three seconds remaining before halftime.

• The Sailors’ senior tailback, Danny Miller, collected all 51 yards on the ground for Newport Harbor.

The senior carried the ball nine times. His best run tied the score, 7-7, on a 26-yard run with 7:59 remaining in the second quarter.

• Newport Harbor’s offense twice got the ball with four minutes left, enough time to get something going and possibly tie a 14-7 game against Edison.

Linebacker Cecil Whiteside intercepted a pass with four minutes remaining. Safety Michael Helfrich recovered a fumble near midfield with 79 seconds remaining.

The offense couldn’t capitalize.

“It’s tough, but we’re a team,” said linebacker Brandon Kula. “You can’t put the blame on offense. You can’t put the blame on the defense. We didn’t get it done.”

• Corona del Mar High’s 34-7 Pacific Coast League loss at Laguna Hills Friday could have been even worse, if not for a late offensive surge.

The Sea Kings drove 41 yards on seven plays after a 19-yard Laguna Hills punt and scored with 1:02 left to avert what would have been only their second shutout in 34 games.

The only other blemish during that time was a 20-0 setback against Laguna Hills last season.

• Sage Hill sophomore quarterback Randall Mycorn suffered a left-shoulder injury on the final play of the first half in the Lightning’s 55-0 nonleague loss at La Jolla Country Day Friday.

He was replaced by sophomore Colton Gyulay.

Ironically, the play on which Mycorn was injured never would have occurred, had not a defensive penalty prolonged the quarter after time had expired.

Senior receiver Craig Jackson was on crutches on the sideline for the entire second half after suffering an undisclosed lower-leg injury in the first half.

The Lightning also missed junior receiver Connor Gaughan, who missed the game due to a shoulder injury suffered in the Oct. 11 against Army-Navy Academy.

• Laguna Hills Principal Sean Boulton is in his second year in that position, his third at the school. A former Estancia administrator, Boulton said he lives in Costa Mesa and his children will attend Newport Harbor High. Newport Harbor is, of course, the Back Bay rival of CdM.

• Next for Newport Harbor is a Sunset League game at Davidson Field, in which the Sailors will be the visitors.

Brinkley said Fountain Valley (4-2, 0-1) needed a site because its home field at Huntington Beach High is undergoing renovation.

The game is Thursday at 7 p.m.

— From staff reports