COSTA MESA – Santiago survived a late scare from Costa Mesa and held on to win in overtime when Edgar Vergara booted a 25-yard field goal for a 16-13 win at Estancia High on Friday night.
Junior Ortega rushed for 148 yards to lead the Cavaliers (2-0), including an 82-yard score early in the third quarter that gave Santiago a 13-7 lead.
After a scoreless first quarter, a bizarre play led to the first score of the game as the Mustangs (0-2) punted from their own 40. Santiago’s Dominick Smith took possession of the punt at the 1-yard line and waited for a whistle that never blew.
Austin Sheffner ripped the ball from Smith and the referees signaled for a TD as Sheffner crossed the goal line.
The Cavaliers answered with an 11-play drive capped by a 6-yard Sergio Vasquez TD catch from Ulysses Cruz.
Santiago’s stingy defense prevented Costa Mesa from taking the lead in the fourth quarter with a crucial goal-line stand as it stopped Mason Mataafa at the 1 on fourth-and-goal.
Costa Mesa’s Jamil Douglas picked off Cruz at the 36 on the next possession, and Mataafa went on to score two plays later.
But the Mustangs missed the extra point, leaving the game tied at 13 and forcing the game into overtime.
