99-Yard Return Keys Brea Victory

BREA — Sean Bickel scored two touchdowns, including a 99-yard kickoff return to open the second half, and Brea-Olinda held on for a 14-10 nonleague victory over Costa Mesa Friday at Brea-Olinda High School.

With the score tied, 7-7, at the end of the first half, Bickel took the second-half opening kickoff at the Brea-Olinda one-yard line, sprinted 50-yards up the middle of the field, broke one tackle, cut to his right, and beat a final Mustang defender at the Costa Mesa 30-yard line for the touchdown.

The Wildcats (4-0) remained unbeaten and have won 11 of 12 games since losing, 14-0, to Costa Mesa last season.

The Mustangs (2-2) had chances to score late in the game. Brea-Olinda’s Nick Logoteta picked off a Matt Harber pass in the end zone with 2 minutes 24 seconds to play, and the Wildcats’ defense held on downs at their own 35-yard line as time ran out.

Costa Mesa scored first to take a 7-0 lead on Johnny Ospina’s 11-yard run midway through the second quarter. Ospina led all rushers with 100 yards in 15 carries.

Brea-Olinda tied the score, 7-7, on its next possession when Bickel caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jason Luevanos. Luevanos was intercepted for the first time this season in the second half when linebacker Mike Cota picked off a pass at the Costa Mesa 49.

Cota also sacked Luevanos three times, forcing three fumbles, two recovered by Costa Mesa. The second fumble recovery led to Bryan Luxenbourger’s 26-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter.