Herzog Gains 314 Yards in Costa Mesa’s Victory

NEWPORT BEACH —  Costa Mesa’s Steve Herzog rushed for 314 yards in 31 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to a 29-13 victory over Estancia in a Pacific Coast League game Friday at Newport Harbor.

Estancia (2-5, 0-2) stayed close through three quarters, but two touchdown runs by Herzog in the fourth sealed the Mustangs’ seventh consecutive victory.

The Eagles scored on the opening kickoff when Manu Tanielu returned it 79 yards for a 7-0 lead.

Special teams then cost Estancia a touchdown after a snap sailed over the punter’s head and Dan Baume recovered it in the end zone, tying the score, 7-7.

After Matt Peca’s 23-yard field goal gave Costa Mesa a 10-7 lead at the half, Herzog broke loose on a 36-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, increasing the Mustangs’ lead to 10 points.

A 93-yard run by James Dawkins later in the quarter brought Estancia within four, but Herzog had touchdown runs of seven and 48 yards in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.