Mira Costa Makes Run of It

Michael Okwo didn’t score a touchdown Saturday night, but he didn’t much care.

Okwo, who did just about everything but score, is going back to the Southern Section Division III championship game.

The senior tailback rushed for 271 yards in 35 carries as Manhattan Beach Mira Costa rolled past Lancaster Antelope Valley, 31-12, in a semifinal at Mira Costa.

The Mustangs (13-0) will play Sherman Oaks Notre Dame next week in a battle of unbeaten teams at Mira Costa.

“This means a lot to this group of guys,” said Okwo, who was part of Mustang teams that lost to Newhall Hart two years ago in the final and again in a semifinal last year.

Antelope Valley quarterback Johnny Walker raced 78 yards for a touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, but had to come out of the game after a crushing hit on the next series.

Walker returned a little later but wasn’t the same. He finished with 140 yards in 16 carries.

Antelope Valley pulled to within 24-12 when Sean Wallace bulled through from one yard with 11 minutes 3 seconds left in the game. But Mira Costa then went 69 yards in 11 plays, chewed up five minutes and 17 seconds, and took a 31-12 lead on a one-yard sneak by quarterback Peter Dobush.

Dobush completed six of 10 passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns -- both to Nick Haley.