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Sports

Mira Costa Football Faces PV

The Mustangs play at home at 7 p.m. Friday during Homecoming.

Mira Costa two weeks ago struggled to generate any offense in a 33-3 setback at Newport Harbor. A week ago, though, the Mustangs found a new horse in its stable. And oh can he run.

"They have that running back and he got 390 yards," said Palos Verdes coach Guy Gardner, whose team faces the Mustangs on Friday. "We have to figure out a way to slow No. 10, which is easier said than done. But anyone who runs for 390 yards is definitely on your radar."

Brandon Edmond put his name on the map with an impressive performance last Friday in Mira Costa’s 30-28 Bay League victory over West Torrance.

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Edmond was a little-used running back—he had 40 yards on 9 carries—in Mira Costa’s first five games, when the Mustangs staggered to a 1-4 mark before last week’s big victory.

That all changed last week when the 5-9, 160-pound Edmond, a senior, torched the Warriors and scored two touchdowns, ending Mira Costa’s three-game losing streak.

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The win kept Mira Costa’s unbeaten streak in league intact, heading into Friday’s showdown with Palos Verdes. The Mustangs have won 16 in a row since a 27-21 loss to Redondo in 2007.

Though the Sea Kings are a major threat to hand the Mustangs their first league loss in three seasons, they must contain Edmond, who suddenly has given a much-needed jolt to .

"We have to stop their running back from having a huge night," Gardner said. "They’re always solid on defense, so you just have to take advantage of what you can get there, which sometimes isn’t much. We know there are some givens with Mira Costa. They’re a physical team and they’re a good football team. But we need to focus on what we do and try to do it well. We know this is going to be a fight."

Last season, Mira Costa captured the battle, earning a 15-7 decision over Palos Verdes. It was the only defeat in league play for the Sea Kings and allowed the Mustangs to record their third consecutive league crown. Palos Verdes finished as runner-up.

Palos Verdes, though, has the more impressive resume right now. After dropping their first two games, the Sea Kings (4-2) have rolled in impressive fashion. They hammered Leuzinger 62-0 last Friday in their league opener. That blowout came on the heels of lopsided victories over Fresno Central (46-7), South Torrance (44-7) and Inglewood (42-7).

"This league is up for grabs," Gardner said. "We’re trying to focus on ourselves and see if we can get better."

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