Field Goal in Final Seconds Beats Costa Mesa

Mike Smith kicked a 30-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the game to lift Estancia to a 10-7 Pacific Coast League victory over Costa Mesa Friday night at Orange Coast College.

Estancia (6-2-1, 3-1 in league) has won nine of the last 12 matches in the cross-town rivalry and Friday the Eagles ended the Mustangs’ chances at the playoffs. Costa Mesa’s record dropped to (3-6, 1-3).

Estancia’s winning drive started at their own 28-yard line with five minutes left to play. Johner completed four passes for 52 yards, including a seven-yard pass to Robert Rimi on fourth and three from the Costa Mesa 43.

A face-mask penalty took the ball to the 11 and four plays later, Smith knelt in prayer before kicking the winning field goal.

The teams were tied, 7-7, at halftime. Estancia scored first when Ricardo Aguilar picked off a Matt Harber pass and ran it back 28 yards midway through the first quarter.

Costa Mesa evened the score in the second quarter with a touchdown that was set up by Mike Cota, who recovered a fumble at the Estancia 19-yard line. Matt Jaglowski scored on an inside reverse play. Jaglowski gained 88 yards in four carries, all inside reverses.

In a mostly defensive game, Estancia was held to 186 yards of total offense and Costa Mesa gained only 168.