N.D.'S YEAR REACHES CRUSHING END KNIGHTS LOSE SEE-SAW BATTLE MIRA COSTA 41, NOTRE DAME 38.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

MANHATTAN BEACH - It was the kind of game in which the running team suddenly went pass happy. The conservative club started poking into its helmet and pulling out trick plays and even the safest of leads was never out of danger.

It was wild, memorable and zany. But for Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, it was simply heartbreaking.

In one of the most entertaining games involving a San Fernando Valley team in recent memory, the Knights dug themselves into a hole, battled back to take a big lead, gave it right back, then nearly won it in regulation only to finally succumb in overtime. Notre Dame's season was ended when it lost to host Mira Costa 41-38 Friday in a Southern Section Division III semifinal game.

Bruising sophomore running back Michael Okwo, who pounded Notre Dame (11-1-1) for 248 yards on 46 carries, scored the game-winning touchdown on a 4-yard run, blasting the Mustangs (12-1) into the Division III title game against defending champion Hart.

Okwo's plunge answered Ryan Allen's 35-yard field goal that gave Notre Dame a brief 38-35 lead.

But Mira Costa, behind Okwo's five runs, came right back, driving 30- yards in eight plays - converting a fourth-and-3 in the process - to win it.

Allen, one of the top kickers in the region, had a chance to win the game in overtime but was wide right on a 34-yard field goal as time expired.

The game featured everything, and for a time it appeared Notre Dame would advance to the final after erasing an early 20-point deficit to take what seemed to be a commanding 35-20 lead.

In a swift, stunning reversal, Notre Dame scored three touchdowns late in the second quarter to swipe away momentum from the Mustangs and take a 21-20 lead at intermission.

Notre Dame then opened the second half with two quick touchdowns to go ahead 35-20.

The shocking turnaround erased a disastrous start in which the Knights fumbled the ball away on their first three possessions, practically handing Mira Costa a touchdown and field goal to dig a 20-0 hole.

The Mustangs opened the game with a 12-play, 61-yard drive to take a 3-0 lead on Nick Wynard's 36-yard field goal. The Knights then fumbled on its first play from scrimmage when Phil Beckmann and Miguel Armendariz couldn't connect on a handoff, giving the Mustangs possession at the Knights' 25-yard line and setting up Wynard's 40-yard field goal.

A few seconds later, Notre Dame gave the ball right back when Mira Costa's Vincent Espinoza recovered a fumble jarred on Wynard's ensuing pooch kickoff. Espinoza grabbed the ball from the air and raced to the Notre Dame 16. Okwo ran in a touchdown a play later, increasing the Mustangs' lead to 20-0.

Okwo had 139 yards on 21 carries in the first half. But as quickly as Notre Dame fell behind, it took the lead. The swift, shocking turnaround began innocently enough when Carlos Portillo scored on a 1-yard run to make it 20-7.

After forcing Mira Costa to punt, then getting the ball back at its own 37, Notre Dame took two plays to move within 20-14 on Beckmann's 50-yard touchdown run.

A few seconds later Notre Dame took a 21-20 lead when Jim Sharp recovered Okwo's fumble and ran 30 yards for a score.

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