Gamebusters-Gamestoppers Week 8

Gamebusters

Last week’s high school football plays of 30 yards or more

52 - Nick Cabico (Costa Mesa) pass from A.J. Perkins.

49 - Steven Ward (Corona del Mar) pass from Dylan Hendy.

46 - Mark Cianciulli (Corona del Mar) run.

41 - Nate Harriman (Estancia) kickoff return.

37 - Nick Cabico (Costa Mesa) interception return.

36 - Steven Ward (Corona del Mar) TD pass from Dylan Hendy.

33 - Nate Harriman (Estancia) kickoff return.

Gamestoppers

Last week’s big defensive plays

COSTA MESA - Cornerback Tim Iller leveled an Estancia pass receiver on

a screen for a 3-yard loss in the third quarter ... Tackle Andrew

Strickland made a jolting first hit on a 1-yard gain in the first

quarter, which was followed by a big fourth-down stop by free safety Nick

Cabico and linebacker Bobby Arroyo ... End Jesse Cardenas stopped a run

for no gain ... Brian Rayner delivered a big first hit for no gain on

fourth down ... Strickland, Dicky Pulu and Jose Valle teamed on a stop

for no gain on third down ... Strickland intercepted a pass and stopped a

ball carrier for an 8-yard loss ... Strong safety Freddy Rodriguez leaped

to break up a pass and also returned a fumble recovery 23 yards to end

the third quarter ... Arroyo added a punishing first hit for no gain.

CORONA DEL MAR - Cornerback Steven Ward intercepted a deep pass and

returned it 44 yards ... Ward recorded his second interception at

Laguna’s 46 in the fourth quarter to secure victory ... Special-teamer

John Daley recovered a fumbled punt reception ... Tackle Jayson Skalla

stuffed a run for a 1-yard loss on third-and-one ... Linebackers Matt

Cooper and Jeff Reed joined forces on a stop for a 2-yard loss ... Skalla

penetrated to make a tackle for a 3-yard loss ... Skalla sacked the

quarterback for a 6-yard loss in the fourth quarter ... Defensive end

Joseph Carr recorded fourth-quarter sacks for a combined 11 yards in

losses.

NEWPORT HARBOR - Middle linebacker Cory Ray led a pack of tacklers to

stuff a run for no gain ... Cornerback Brian Gaeta stopped an off-tackle

play for a 1-yard gain ... End Jim Rothwell tackled a ball carrier for no

gain ... Rothwell, David Marshall and Joe Foley all converged to produce

a 1-yard loss ... Rothwell stayed home on a bootleg to nail QB for an

8-yard loss ... Robert Chai and Tyler Miller combined on a stop for a

1-yard loss ... End Bryan Breland forced a fumble and linebacker Dave

Erickson recovered at his own 4 ... Breland stuffed an off-tackle run for

a 1-yard loss ... Gaeta and linebacker Matt Encinias combined to break up

a pass in the end zone ... Safety Warren Junowich made a big hit on a

2-yard gain ... Miller made a tackle for a 4-yard loss, one play before

Rothwell recovered a fumble that set up a touchdown ... Cornerback Adam

Kerns had two fourth-quarter interceptions and Mike McDonald’s

interception was nullified by a penalty.

ESTANCIA - End Eric Anderson had three sacks in the second half for 20

yards in losses, including back-to-back sacks to single-handedly thwart

one Mesa drive ... Inside linebacker Joey Mueller blitzed to earn a sack

for a 4-yard loss ... Mueller and cornerback Mitch Valdes stopped a ball

carrier on fourth-and-five on the opening series ... Free safety Lewis

Bradshaw recovered a fumble and caught a kickoff returner after a 52-yard

gain to save a touchdown ... Valdes recovered a second-quarter fumble ...

On second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Bradshaw stuffed a ball carrier

for no gain ... Cornerback Jermaine Snell delivered his team’s biggest

blow on a rushing play ... Bubba Kapko had a big first hit for no gain on

a QB keeper.