YORBA LINDA — The Yorba Linda football team has played in its share of the down-to-the wire games this season, but none were bigger than the 24-20 victory over Serra of Gardena in a CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff game Friday at Yorba Linda High School.

The Mustangs (11-1), who are ranked No. 10 in Orange County, had two huge takeaways in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Serra (8-4) was driving with a minute remaining in the game when Mustangs safety Logan Saucedo recovered a fumble caused by an errant snap at the Yorba Linda 33-yard line.

Minutes earlier, the Cavaliers fumbled on a first-and-goal from the 1 and the ball was recovered by Yorba Linda linebacker Santiago Salas.

“They play disciplined football and they’re in the right spots all the time,” Yorba Linda coach Jeff Bailey said of his defense. “It helps us out to be in the right spots to get those plays. The heart of this group … They never give up. Every game has been like this. It just doesn’t matter what the situation is. They fight their butts off. It’s awesome.”

Yorba Linda will play undefeated Newbury Park in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 22, at Newbury Park. The Panthers defeated San Clemente, 24-13, in another quarterfinal on Friday.

The Mustangs did a decent job containing Serra quarterback Jimmy Butler, who came into the contest with 2,545 yards passing and 18 touchdowns this season.

Butler completed 16 of 23 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns but was also pressured and forced to throw the ball out of bounds on several plays

He was also sacked three times, twice by defensive end Blake Thorpe.

“I was watching the film (and) their tackle liked to step in a little bit,” Thorpe said. “I saw that so I was thinking maybe a little push-pull, maybe a shimmy might work and I stuck to that. … and here we are.”

Yorba Linda defensive end Blake Thorpe had two sacks in the Mustangs’ 24-20 victory over Serra in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 15. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

The Mustangs held the Cavaliers scoreless in the second and fourth quarters.

Both teams scored on long drives in the game’s first two possessions.

Daylawn Reed scored for the Cavaliers on a 2-yard run on the game’s first possession.

Yorba Linda responded with a 72-yard drive scoring drive, capped by Cole Nerio’s 7-yard touchdown run, giving the Mustangs a 7-6 lead.

Leading 14-13 in the second quarter, the Mustangs started a drive at their 8-yard line with four minutes, 47 seconds remaining.

Yorba Linda was about to face a fourth-and-6 from their 11 and having to punt the ball back to the Cavaliers with plenty of time remaining.

But a personal foul penalty against Serra on third down, gave the Mustangs a first down at their 26.

From there, the Mustangs drove to the Serra 8, setting up a 25-yard field goal from Cayden Eilers as time expired and Yorba Linda took a 17-13 lead into the half.

Serra took a 20-17 third quarter lead on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Butler to Malachi Holt.

Yorba Linda quarterback Holden Nagin completed 7 of 11 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the Mustangs’ 24-20 victory over Serra in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 15. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

Yorba Linda came back on the ensuing possession and took the lead for good on Nerio’s second rushing touchdown of the game, this one for eight yards.

The touchdown was set up by a 57-yard pass from Holden Nagin one play earlier.

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