Costa Mesa Shuts Out Estancia and Rings Bell

It seems like such a lot of fuss for a few chimes.

But Costa Mesa players lined up and rang with gusto Friday after wresting the coveted bell from Estancia in a 17-0 Pacific Coast League victory at Newport Harbor High.

The Bell is annually awarded to the winner of the cross-town rivalry and Estancia had to hand it over after holding it the past year.

“I hate to give this bell up but you guys dominated us,” said Estancia Assistant Principal Bill Wetzel to the Mustang players.

“This shows that hard work pays off,” said Costa Mesa Principal Andy Hernandez, accepting the award.

The Mustangs (4-3, 1-1 in league) marched 79 yards in 15 plays before Steve Herzog scored on a one-yard run with 49 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Estancia (5-2, 0-2) aided the Costa Mesa drive with four penalties for 30 yards. The Eagles accumulated 90 yards in penalties in the first half.

“That has hurt us all year,” Estancia Coach John Liebengood said.

Matt Peca kicked a 39-yard field goal with 8:03 remaining in the half and Costa Mesa took a 10-0 lead into the locker room.

Chris Mokede, who played on the Costa Mesa side of Estancia’s 42-18 victory last year before transferring to Estancia, was called for unsportsmanlike conduct as the Eagles left the field at halftime.

The penalty was assessed on the second-half kickoff and although the Cougar kick became a touchback, the Eagles’ mood was dampened.

Costa Mesa recovered an Estancia fumble at the 50-yard line to start the fourth quarter in a play that left Herzog limping to the sideline. In his absence, Ronnie Lievanos added 12 yards in three carries to Vince Hamade’s five-yard run to move the Mustangs to the 33 yard-line.

That’s when Herzog returned and gained 32 yards in five carries before scoring on a one-yard run to put it out of reach with 6:32 to play.

“They just outplayed us,” Liebengood said. “They did a good job of playing defense today and just wore us down on offense.”

For Costa Mesa, the game meant more than just a bell.

“It means the chance to go into CIF [playoffs],” Herzog said.

After the game, Estancia’s Tim Johnson lay on the field for about 30 minutes, hyperventilating and complaining of tingling in his hands and legs. He was taken to Hoag Hospital for X-rays.

Johnson also went to the hospital last week because of hyperventilating during a loss to Laguna Hills.