Zuniga, Costa Mesa Rush Past Westminster

C.J. Zuniga rushed for 196 yards to help Costa Mesa spoil Westminster’s homecoming with a 16-6 victory in a nonleague game Friday night at Westminster.

“My offensive line, that’s the whole key,” Zuniga said. “Today, I was running through holes like the kind you can drive a truck through.”

Costa Mesa quarterback Dave Weir scored on a 20-yard run at the start of the second quarter on a botched play.

“My tailback accidentally went the wrong way,” Weir said. “I squeezed the ball and followed my blockers. They were still blocking in the same scheme, and I followed them into the end zone.”

That score put the Mustangs up 6-0. Costa Mesa later added a 28-yard field goal from Luis Avalos for a 9-0 halftime lead.

Costa Mesa’s biggest stop on defense came at the start of the fourth quarter, when the Lions were at Costa Mesa’s five-yard line. Quarterback Kelly Coburn was chased out of the pocket and threw an awkward pass right to safety Willy Franco.

“I thought we played superb defense,” Costa Mesa Coach Jerry Howell said. “We gave a great effort, and we hit hard.”

Westminster tailback Vince Laurel was held to 15 yards in eight carries but did score a fourth-quarter touchdown on a four-yard run.

Coburn completed 16 of 29 passes for 192 yards, but two his his passes were intercepted.