COSTA MESA – Before Thursday’s game, Katella coach Fred DiPalma said his team wanted to control the clock with its ground game. The Knights did just that against Costa Mesa.
Katella ran the ball 60 times for 287 yards and used an efficient passing game to wear down Costa Mesa in a 40-21 nonleague victory at Estancia High.
After a sluggish start to the game, Katella (2-0) started to run straight at Costa Mesa (2-1).
The Knights strung together a 15-play drive capped on a 1-yard run by Thomas Cuevas followed by a 12-play drive that ended with Randy Furbush in the endzone on a 5-yard carry for a 14-0 lead.
Furbush powered Katella’s run game with 27 carries for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
Costa Mesa struck back quickly with a three-play drive. Joseph Brucales started it with a 43-yard run. It finished with an 11-yard TD pass from Ben Swanson to Rodrigo Carvalho.
Katella responded with a short five-yard drive as the 6-foot-4 James Faitasia jumped, pulled down a high pass from Joseph Vasquez and ran for a 53-yard touchdown pass and a 21-7 lead.
Vasquez finished 12 of 17 passing for 232 yards. Faitasia caught seven passes for 172 yards.
The Knights’ defense held Costa Mesa to 116 yardsNicolas Hurtado had two sacks and Jason Paez caught two interceptions including one in the endzone in the fourth quarter.
