Notre Dame Holds On

It was more queasy than easy, and it reminded fans of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame a little too much of a tough semifinal loss two years ago against Manhattan Beach Mira Costa.

But in the end, Notre Dame held on for a 20-17 victory over Mira Costa to win the Southern Section Division III championship Friday before 5,000 at El Camino College.

Notre Dame quarterback Marcel Marquez ran for two touchdowns and passed for another -- all in the first half -- and the Knights withstood a furious comeback in the final three minutes to win their first Division III title since 1994.

Mira Costa came screaming into the game averaging 40 points in three playoff victories, but was shockingly quiet Friday until scoring two touchdowns in the final 2:56.

Then, after pulling to within 20-17, Mira Costa recovered an onside kick with 1:07 left, but turned the ball over on downs.

Marquez, however, fumbled the snap from center and gave Mira Costa another chance with 16 seconds left at the Notre Dame 25. The Mustangs threw incomplete into the end zone and Tyler Pringle’s 41-yard attempt went wide left with two seconds remaining.

Marquez called the ending “the scariest thing ever.”

“Coach [Kevin] Rooney said to hang on like a bulldog ... and we did,” Marquez said.

Marquez was sizzling in the first half, completing eight of nine passes for 168 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown pass to Josh Cordray that put Notre Dame ahead, 13-0, with 1:39 left in the first quarter.

Marquez opened the scoring on a 41-yard option keeper down the right side. He also scored on an 18-yard run with 51 seconds left in the second quarter.

Marquez, a senior, finished with 117 yards rushing and completed 10 of 12 passes for 205 yards.

Two years ago, when the teams played in a Division III semifinal, Mira Costa running back Michael Okwo had 253 yards in 46 carries as a sophomore and the Mustangs won a back-and-forth game in overtime, 41-38.

The Knights (14-0) were pretty physical Friday night.

Okwo entered with 2,342 yards rushing, a 10-yard average per carry and 30 touchdowns.

Okwo had 139 yards rushing in 25 carries Friday.

Okwo, who also plays inside linebacker, had one sack and was kept at bay on most plays by Notre Dame’s offensive line.

Mira Costa (13-1) lost in the Division III championship for the second time in three seasons.

Mira Costa’s Peter Dobush completed 13 of 28 passes for 206 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.