Mira Costa is preparing for their first league matchup of the season on Friday. They will look to defend their home field against the Lawndale Cardinals at 7:00 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Friday, Mira Costa was able to grind out a solid victory over Villa Park, taking the game 34-23.
Mira Costa relied on the efforts of Liam Meeker, who threw for 198 yards and three TDs on only 18 passes, and AJ McBean, who gained 99 total yards and two touchdowns.
Joaquin Wagner-Bagues
| 09/26/25 vs Villa Park | 12 |
| 09/19/25 vs San Juan Hills | 19 |
| 09/12/25 @ La Habra | 17 |
| 09/05/25 @ Redondo Union | 5 |
| 08/29/25 @ St. Francis | 7 |
| + 11 more games |
Another reason for the win was Mira Costa's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for five sacks. Joaquin Wagner-Bagues was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up three himself. He is also on a roll when it comes to total tackles, as he's now made five or more in each of the last 16 games he's played dating back to last season.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Lawndale, who bounced back after a loss on the road on September 12th. They strolled past Mary Star of the Sea with points to spare last Friday, taking the game 30-15.
Lawndale's win came from a few key players Mira Costa will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Julian Galvez, who threw for 205 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only 17 passes. 85 of Galvez's passing yards were hauled in by King Berry, who also brought in a receiving touchdown.
Lawndale didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Cordae Caston and Berry. Lawndale got some further help from Ebenezer Augustine: he picked up two sacks and made six total tackles (3.0 for loss).
Lawndale's win bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Mira Costa, their victory bumped their record up to an identical 4-1.
Friday's game might be decided in the trenches. Mira Costa has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 164.6 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Lawndale, though, as they've been averaging only 81.6 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Everything came up roses for Mira Costa against Lawndale in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, as the squad secured a 49-7 win. Do the Mustangs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cardinals turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
