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First-year Pacifica football coach Kyle Murphy earned many accolades as a player, including reaching the Rose Bowl. He became a veteran assistant coach at the high school and collegiate levels. But none of those experiences quite compared to his feelings under the stadium lights last week.

“I’m not sure I’ve felt a victory this sweet,” Murphy wrote on his social media after a 42-14 triumph against Walnut at Bolsa Grande High.

It was Murphy’s first victory at the helm of Pacifica, and filled the coach with a sense of pride that he compared to when a parent sees his child succeed.

“As a coach, all you want is your kids to have success,” he said. “While it’s great for me to have a victory, I’m just really proud of them, and what they get to experience because of it. Seeing Noah Salas, our quarterback, smile as much as he was smiling on Friday night, to me that’s why I coach.

“To see those smiles, to see them come out on the other side. I truly believe that they believe in what we’re doing because they stuck with it and they’ve continued to work.”

Pacifica (1-3) lost to San Gabriel Valley-ranked Glendora 49-7 the previous week but bounced back with its best week of practice for Walnut (2-3), Murphy said.

Salas, one of 10 seniors on the squad, led the Mariners to the victory by rushing for three touchdowns and passing for one. Junior Noah Lewis rushed for two scores and sophomore David Carlsson caught one score and a 2-point conversion.

Carlsson also helped lead the defense from his safety spot. He recorded an interception and a momentum-changing hit in the third quarter, Murphy said.

“There’s no limit to his game,” the coach said of Carlsson.

Murphy, who played on the offensive line at Edison and Arizona State, naturally noticed his team’s blocking. On long touchdowns runs by Salas and Lewis, wide receiver Armando Torres delivered key blocks, he said.

Pacifica is building an offensive line featuring juniors Nathan Moua, Jayden Leneker, Conner Stewart and Tyler Lewis, along with senior Marcelo Sanchez.

The Mariners trailed Walnut 14-13 in the third quarter but sprinted to the finish following an injury to defensive back Christian Shockley. The junior transfer from Los Alamitos left the game after taking a hard hit and colliding with a teammate but is recovering, Murphy said.

The perseverance Pacifica showed is the type of characteristic Murphy is trying to foster on and off the field.

He has, for example, implemented two tiers of study hall to help players with low grades. Dress codes, punctuality and respectful language also are stressed.

“I’m demanding discipline, consistency and accountability, and those are things are difficult,” said Murphy, who also teaches at Pacifica. “All those things are much bigger than the game and they lead to victories, and those victories are great because of how hard you’ve worked to get it.”

“The things I’m asking of them,” the coach added, “are life things that will help them be successful once they leave here.”

Pacifica plays at El Toro (1-4) on Friday before opening an improved Empire League against defending champion Cypress on Sept. 29. The Mariners went 1-4 in league last season en route to 3-7 overall record.

“We want to go to the playoffs,” Murphy said. “It’s going to take a lot of work to do that because of how good Tustin is, how good Cypress is. … There’s no gimmies, so it’s going to require supreme effort.”

“(But) ultimately, my job is to prepare (our players) for life,” he added.

ORANGE LUTHERAN INJURIES

Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman is hopeful that injured quarterback TJ Lateef can return next week for the Lancers’ Trinity League opener at JSerra.

The junior didn’t play in a 40-6 loss against Sierra Canyon last week after being injured in a 35-10 loss at Chandler of Arizona.

“We anticipate he’ll be back for JSerra,” said Sherman, whose backup QB Alex Medyn left the game Friday following a tackle.

Orange Lutheran’s injuries last week also included All-County defensive lineman Jireh Moe and linebacker Christian Panapa. Sherman said Moe hasn’t played this season is “a ways away” from returning.

NOTES

The South Coast League has a composite record of 17-3, the best in Orange County. The Crestview (14-4) and Trinity (21-7) leagues aren’t far behind. …

Santa Margarita sophomore wide receiver Trent Mosley rushed for a touchdown and caught a score in a 42-7 victory against Leuzinger last week. In five games, Mosley has scored 16 touchdowns — 10 rushing and six receiving. …

Godinez (2-3) plays host to Century (1-3) at Santa Ana Valley on Friday in a clash of improved teams. Godinez went 1-9 last season and 0-10 in 2021. Century went 0-10 last season.

Please send football news to Dan Albano at [email protected] or @ocvarsityguy

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