Mira Costa run over by Notre Dame in football opener
Senior Tre Searcy led Mira Costa’s rushing attack with 168 yards and two touchdowns. Photo
Mira Costa dropped its football home opener Friday when visiting Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks dominated the Mustangs in a 70-34 win at Waller Stadium.
The loss marked the second consecutive season Mira Costa has lost its season opener to Notre Dame by 36 points. The Mustangs were defeated by the host Knights 42-6 last year.
C.J. Sanders did most of the damage for Notre Dame, scoring on a 30-yard run on the Knights openings drive and adding four more touchdowns in the rout.
After Sanders scored on a 20-yard reception and Leo Lambert scored the first of his three touchdowns with a 17-yard run, Mira Costa was able to put points on the board on Tre Searcy’s 19-yard touchdown run.
The excitement of the home crowd was short lived, however, when Sanders returned the kickoff 86 yards. He scored two plays later on a 13-yard run.
Searcy was the workhorse for Mira Costa’s ground attack, gaining 168 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
With the Mustangs playing catch up the entire game, junior quarterback Jacob Silvera was 23 of 38 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns.
Mira Costa entered the game ranked No. 3 in the CIF-SS Western Division pre-season poll and, after a bye week, will host Downey, the ninth-ranked team in the Southeast Division on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
Downey is 1-0-1 this season. The Vikings battled Orange Lutheran to a 20-20 tie on Aug. 22 and scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to defeat Mayfair 34-21 Friday night.
Daevon Vigilant rushed for two touchdowns, Justin Huff ran for one score and quarterback Trevor Hill passed Jacob Cook for a touchdown in Downey’s win.
Mira Costa defeated Downey 36-15 on the road last season.
“Downey won the CIF championship two years ago and is very athletic coming from a huge school, population-wise, and a community that really loves its football,” Mira Costa head coach Don Morrow said.