Mira Costa Drops Opener to Loyola

The 2011 Mira Costa Football season opened the way the past three seasons have –with a loss to rival Loyola.

Friday night, the Cubs, playing at home, scored on three consecutive first half drives en route to a 28-14 victory over the Mustangs.

Despite dropping their opener for the fourth consecutive year, it has been Mira Costa mantra to finish strong, be it in games or in the main focus, the Bay League, where the Mustangs have executed down the stretch, winning the past three league titles.

With several key departures from last year’s team, one important returnee, running back Steven Giavatti excelled with his first start in the backfield, as the hard-running senior eclipsed the century mark on the ground with 104 yards on 21 carries, including a 10-yard score in the fourth quarter.

Junior Alex Cuevas, starting his first game as quarterback for the Mustangs, was an efficient 9 for 15 with 79 yards and a touchdown, with no turnovers, a bright spot in what can often be turnover-laden nonconference games.

Loyola was sharp on offense, scoring in the first half on three consecutive possessions, with Kodi Whitfield hauling in a 51-yard score from quarterback Nicolas Cotton, and then scoring on an 18-yard touchdown run.

Tailback Wyatt Bradford finished off the first half, scoring with a 42-yard sprint into the end zone to give Loyola a 21-0 lead. Bradford would amass 180 yards of total offense and two touchdowns during the game.

Cuevas and the Mustangs offense bounced back as the junior engineered a 14-play drive that spanned 70 yards, culminating in a Dylan Chen touchdown catch from three yards out before halftime.