TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Mira Costa High only has seating on one side of the field. The Mustangs dealt with one of many downsides to that design in Friday’s 24-0 loss to visiting Newport Harbor.

With four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Sailors comfortably ahead, 24-0, the Mustangs’ fans and cheerleaders attempted to infuse some energy into their team. The cheerleaders started a cheer with ‘Let’s go’ and the Mira Costa fans chimed in ‘Mustangs!’

Unfortunately for the Mustangs’ fans, the Sailors’ fans were mixed in and after one go-around, the Newport Harbor fans quickly caught on and interjected a much louder ‘Sailors’ at the end of the cheer.

The result was cheer of ‘Let’s go Sailors’ led by the Mira Costa cheerleaders.

While Hughes did not play any offense, his temporary appearance on the field at safety was cause for concern for CdM Coach Dick Freeman.

Hughes was directed onto the field by an assistant coach to replace Charlie Albright, who had to leave after being tended to for leg cramps.

But before the ball was snapped, Freeman spotted Hughes and directed the coach to send in another replacement.

“The coach said he had run out of bodies, but I told him to send one of the skinny guys we have out there instead of Hughes,” Freeman said.

The Sea Kings’ last two games against Villa Park were first-round CIF Southern Section playoff losses in 1994 (a 43-21 setback in Division V) and 1993 (a 30-28 Division IV loss).

“It was our turn,” Freeman said.

Another connection between the Sea Kings and the Spartans is their coaches. Freeman said he has known Pat Mahoney, in his 23rd season at the Villa Park helm, since the two were in elementary school in Anaheim.

“He was one year behind me, but we grew up together,” said Freeman of his former Anaheim High teammate.

“Rafael ran hard, and he does get stronger as the game goes on,” Eagles Coach Brian Barnes said.

“We’ve struggled against the option the last few weeks, and I knew they’d probably try it against us,” Barnes said. “We tackled the wrong guy, and they ran it for a big play. We’ve still got to work on that.”

With the Sailors second-string offense on the field against the Mustangs second-string defense, the Sailors had a clear advantage.

After his first attempt of the game, junior tailback Woody Yokoyama ran the ball three straight times for 42 yards and then senior Ben Buttolph spelled Yokoyama and broke off a 21-yard run.