Coyotes Stopped in Tracks

All season long Buena Park has based its offense around its running game. The Coyotes expected to continue their success Friday night against Costa Mesa in a first-round game of the Southern Section Division VIII playoffs.

But Buena Park Coach Manny Saiz’s game plan turned out to be, well, disastrous.

Managing only 16 yards rushing, the Coyotes were overpowered by the defensive-minded Mustangs, 24-6, at Orange Coast College.

Costa Mesa was led by Steve Herzog, who rushed for 162 yards and scored twice. The Mustangs, who will meet the Covina-Bellflower winner in the second round next week, threw the ball only three times.

Costa Mesa (10-1) dominated the line of scrimmage, holding Buena Park’s Brian McDonald to 20 yards in 11 carries. The Coyotes managed only 10 yards total offense in the first half.

McDonald had 1,342 yards rushing going into Friday’s game, but the only damage he did against the Mustangs was a 36-yard completion to quarterback Tony Alonzo on a flea-flicker.

The pass set up the Coyotes’ only score, a six-yard toss from Alonzo to tight end Ty Gardner.

McDonald’s pass accounted for one of Buena Park’s two first downs. The other came on a penalty.

“Being based on the run is not a good thing to do against us,” Costa Mesa Coach Jerry Howell said. “We’re the No. 1 defensive team in the county. Run or pass, we’re tough to beat.”