Mistake-Prone Mira Costa Avoids Upset by Inglewood

Four fumbles by the Mira Costa High football team wasn’t enough for Inglewood to pull an upset Saturday at Coleman Stadium. The Mustangs recovered from their mistakes and ended nonleague play undefeated with a 20-7 victory.

Inglewood (1-5) gave Mira Costa (6-0) a scare when it tied the score, 7-7, early in the second quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass from York Frierson to Mario Qualls. But the Mustangs regained the lead, 14-7, before halftime.

“I thought they played as well as they have in any of their games this year,” Mira Costa Coach Don Morrow said of Inglewood. “I was worried at the half. We talked about putting more pressure on them defensively, and the defense stepped up.”

Mira Costa held the Sentinels to minus-seven yards in the second half. Defensive lineman Phil Fonua led the Mustangs with three sacks within a six-minute span in the fourth quarter.

Offensively, Mira Costa had a little more trouble. Of their five possessions in the second half, three were ended by fumbles.

“We were sloppy, but we are excited to be 6-0,” Morrow said. “Sometimes things like that happen. What I’m most happy with is that we found a way to win. Every week we seem to find somebody else.”

Saturday it was junior tailback Dennis Hughes, who rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns and caught a scoring pass.

Hughes’ first touchdown came late in the first quarter when he caught a short pass from quarterback Ryan Barnes and ran 55 yards into the end zone.

Hughes gave Mira Costa the lead for good with two minutes left in the half when he ran 51 yards for a score.

Inglewood’s offensive spark came from Frierson, who burned the Mustangs on several lengthy scrambles. The Sentinels have lost five consecutive games.