Mary Star High Football Comes Back To Win At South Torrance

TORRANCE - The first half looked like host South High of Torrance was closing in on their first victory of the 2018 season and even the public address announcer had a freudian slip saying 'at halftime, the final score is...' when the Spartans held a 13-3 lead over visiting Mary Star.

The Stars, however, had other plans in mind for the final outcome.

Even losing a fumble off a bad snap in which South recovered and returned 22 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the third quarter would not rattle the cages of the Stars, as they responded by scoring 20 unanswered points on the strength of three touchdown passes from senior quarterback Kevin Costa and a spirited defense that registered five takeaways, and Mary Star prevailed with a come-from-behind 23-20 nonleague victory over the Spartans.

Costa's third touchdown of the night, a 28-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Isaac Colloca - the second time they hooked up for six in the game - with 6:42 remaining in the game propelled the Stars (4-0 overall) to remain unbeaten after four games thus far in the 2018 season.

The real 'Star' - no pun intended - of the night, was a relentless, in-your-face, suffocating Mary Star defense.

Making impact early, senior RB/LB Luke Sabra recovered a fumble on the game's opening possession for Mary Star, but the Spartans (4-0) would score on their next two possessions with a pair of touchdown passes to take a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Stars' offense came slow out of the gate but provided points on their first possession of the second quarter on Noah Guastella's 21-yard field goal.

Mary Star's offense continued to struggle as junior WR/LB Marco Ibarra punted five times after a three-and-out, but then again, South's offense failed to produce for the remainder of the half.

After Costa's lost fumble off a snap in the third quarter led to six points for the Spartans, the offense finally came to life when Costa drove the Stars downfield in a drive that ended with Costa's first scoring strike, a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ibarra to cut South's lead to 19-9 as the two-point conversion failed. On the Stars' next possession, Ibarra was forced to punt yet again, but Mary Star, and Costa, got a gift in the form of a muffed punt, which Costa recovered.

Given new life once again, Costa would throw a beauty of a 22-yard pass to Colloca which he caught in the back of the end zone for a touchdown that cut the Stars' deficit down to 19-16 with three minutes left in the third quarter. 

Once again the Stars' defense came up clutch to force a punt at the start of the fourth quarter, then the offense engineered a 12-play, 68-yard drive that culminated with Costa's 28-yard touchdown pass to Colloca, as Costa pump faked before finding Colloca wide open with a perfect deep spiral. Then after surrendering one first down, a huge sack on fourth and nine with just under four minutes left to play from junior linebacker Jordan Fajardo would force South to turn it over on downs.

There was one more big play for Costa to make, and on third-and-long, he delivered a 25-yard pass to senior WR/LB Joe James for the first down with 1:08 to play, allowing Mary Star to run out the clock and survive victorious.

Costa was money when the Stars needed him, but the defense was on point, especially after the rugged first quarter.

Fajardo had three sacks on the night, Costa, Sabra and sophomore Adam Turbide all recovered fumbles, while junior defensive back Andy Vega and senior defensive lineman Josh Fennessey each intercepted a pass for Mary Star, who will travel to Village Christian, a 42-14 winner over Boron, next Friday.

Views: 555

Comment

You need to be a member of San Pedro News Pilot to add comments!

Join San Pedro News Pilot

San Pedro News Pilot by email - sign up!

Delivered by FeedBurner

What is the SanPedroNewsPilot.com?

The SanPedroNewsPilot.com is the social network and information outlet for San Pedro.

Want to keep up with the news in San Pedro, become a member.


 

Membership has its privileges!

• Got news you think everyone should know? Blog it.
• Have a show or attending a benefit? Put it on the calendar.
• Got video of the big game? Embed it.
• Photos of the new storefront or the school play? Upload them.

Latest Activity

Mistah Wilson updated their profile
Feb 4
Vincie Sutrin promoted Jamaal Kellen Street's blog post San Pedro High Flag Football 2023 Shines In Inaugural Year
Dec 31, 2023
Vincie Sutrin promoted Jamaal Kellen Street's blog post San Pedro High Flag Football 2023 Shines In Inaugural Year
Dec 31, 2023

Sports Editor
Jamaal Kellen Street promoted Jamaal Kellen Street's blog post San Pedro High Flag Football 2023 Shines In Inaugural Year
Dec 31, 2023

Sports Editor
Jamaal Kellen Street posted a blog post

San Pedro High Flag Football 2023 Shines In Inaugural Year

When a new high school sports program begins, normally it takes time to build a winner from the ground up.For San Pedro High flag football however, they didn't waste time in its inaugural season.Not wanting to settle for just being one of the 54 CIF-Los Angeles City Section schools to take in this brand-new environment, San Pedro immediately looked to hire a man well…See More
Dec 31, 2023
Mistah Wilson posted a blog post

The Jewish Community Weaponized Hip Hop Against Black People

Is it not yet painfully obvious that the so-called European Jewish community has profited off of the destruction of African American families all across the world?Are we really going to take the stance that conscious Hip Hop wouldn't have sold records? Whole fan bases have been ousted over the special interests of the Jewish community. Lyor Cohen, a so-called Jewish…See More
Nov 23, 2023

Sports Editor
Jamaal Kellen Street promoted Jamaal Kellen Street's blog post 2022-2023 San Pedro Prep Sports Team Of The Year
Oct 3, 2023
Mistah Wilson posted a blog post

Soul The Interrogator talks Hip Hop Histories & His New Album "Ol' Head" (Exclusive Interview)

Seattle rapper Soul The Interrogator talks General Background, TakeOver Music Collective, & His Latest Album Ol' Head in an exclusive interview w/ Mistah Wilson for tha Seattle Music Scene...See More
Sep 11, 2023

© 2024   Created by San Pedro News Pilot.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service