Palos Verdes High Topples Mira Costa to Advance to Championship

Palos Verdes High School is one game closer to claiming the CIF-Southern Section’s Western Division championship, downing Mira Costa High out of Manhattan Beach 25-10 at San Pedro High School last Friday night. PV High’s home field does not have lights, so the team frequently holds home games elsewhere.

PV, now 10-3 overall and the No. 2 seed, will defend its 2014 championship title, playing No. 1 seed Calabasas. Calabasas is 12-1 overall.

Friday night, Mira Costa scored all of the team’s 10 points in the second quarter, trailing 16-10 at halftime, according to the Beach Reporter.

For its part, PV got two huge plays out of its special teams: a 70-yard punt return from Nick Alessi and a 75-yard kickoff return from Anthony Messori, sparking the team’s lead at the half, according to the Daily Breeze.

“When your offense is trying to manufacture points, and the special teams gets points for you, it’s gigantic,” said head coach Guy Gardner. “We just played a really good football team. Anything that you can manufacture is gigantic.”

The Sea Kings intercepted Mustangs quarterback David Arredondo three times in the second half (and game), putting the brakes on any scoring chances for the Mustangs. Sea Kings defenders also put the kabosh on Mustang pushes for the goal line, forcing turnovers after a 70-yard pass on a trick play by Costa and a 25-yard pass from Arredondo to Casey Bonner.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Sea King Kyle Messinger said of being back in the final. “I want another ring on my finger.”

PV travels on to Calabasas for the championship game Saturday, Dec. 5. The Sea Kings are going for their third CIF title in four years.

Calabasas, known for its high-octane offense that is averaging 43.3 points per game in the postseason, according to the Easy Reader, has outscored opponents 525-191 this season behind junior quarterback Tristan Gebbia, who has passed for nearly 4,000 yards--more than 800 of those belonging to three receivers.

PV, under sophomore quarterback Jake Nolls, has outscored its opponents 262-148 this season.