OT not kind to Mesa

SANTA ANA — After 82 total points scored, after more than three hours of high school football, it all came down to the left leg of Godinez High junior kicker Alex Hernandez.

Hernandez split the uprights with the kick at Segerstrom High. He also broke some hearts on the Costa Mesa sideline.

His conversion kick in the third overtime helped the host Grizzlies outlast the Mustangs, 42-41, in a wild game that was the Orange Coast League opener for both teams Thursday night. It was the Grizzlies’ first league win in school history.

Costa Mesa, which had battled back from a 13-0 halftime deficit, had chances to win. But the Mustangs (1-5) dropped their second overtime game of the season.

The score was tied, 28-28, after regulation thanks to junior quarterback Nathan Alvis’ eight-yard touchdown scramble with 1:09 to play. Alvis somehow eluded a sack on the play, his knee nearly touching the grass before he slipped out of the tackle and found the end zone.

Godinez’s Joseph Harris slammed his hand onto the ground, in disbelief after missing the sack, but the game went into overtime.

The Mustangs got the ball first in overtime, at the Godinez 25-yard line.

On third-and-10, Alvis found senior running back Tyler Sheffner on a 25-yard touchdown pass, and after Peter Marquez’s conversion kick Mesa had a 35-28 advantage.

Godinez (4-2) responded on its first overtime possession, as Hernandez caught a 20-yard touchdown pass.

Neither team scored on the second overtime possession, as a Godinez back fumbled the ball and Costa Mesa’s Tyler Biggs recovered. But the Mustangs were also stopped.

Unable to move the ball, they missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt wide left.

Costa Mesa scored on its third overtime possession on another Alvis scramble, this one from 10 yards out.

But the conversion kick was missed, also wide left, opening the door for the Grizzlies.

Godinez senior quarterback Victor Silva scored on a one-yard touchdown run, and after Hernandez’s final kick the Grizzlies stormed the field.

Godinez 42, Costa Mesa 41 (3 OT)

SCORE BY PERIODS

CM 0 – 0 – 14 – 14 – 7 – 0 – 6 — 41

G 13 – 0 – 0 – 15 – 7 – 0 – 7 — 42

FIRST PERIOD

G – Olvera 11 run (kick failed), 4:52.

G – Olvera 51 pass from V. Silva (Hernandez kick), 0:49.

THIRD PERIOD

CM – Alvis 1 run (P. Marquez kick), 9:36.

CM – Grayson 17 run (P. Marquez kick), 0:01.

FOURTH PERIOD

G – V. Silva 6 run (E. Silva pass from V. Silva)), 8:50.

CM – Comer 68 pass from Alvis (P. Marquez kick), 6:58.

G – Pena 3 run (Hernandez kick), 3:40.

CM – Alvis 8 run (P. Marquez kick), 1:09.

OVERTIME 1

CM – Sheffner 25 pass from Alvis (P. Marquez kick).

G – Hernandez 20 run (Hernandez kick).

OVERTIME 3

CM – Alvis 10 run (kick failed).

G – V. Silva 1 run (Hernandez kick).

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

G – Pena, 10-46, 1 TD.

CM – J. Marquez, 10-100.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

G – V. Silva, 10-13-0, 158, 1 TD.

CM – Alvis, 12-19-0, 225, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

G – Hernandez, 3-57.

CM – Sheffner, 4-96, 1 TD.