ALTADENA — Muir High head coach Lance Mitchell said his program is still learning to win. The process has been accelerated in his four seasons and sped up even more in a hard-fought 17-14 victory over Bonita in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.

Muir (1-0) fended off a potential Bonita comeback by stopping the Bearcats (0-1) on a fourth-and-goal from the Mustang 7-yard line with just 39 seconds left. Jason Brown sacked freshman quarterback Cade Burbidge, who had come on in relief of the injured Travis Lippert for Bonita’s final three offensive plays.

“I’m excited for the kids,” Mitchell said. “We’re trying to get over a hump right now just as far as the program is concerned.”

Muir spent much of the past decade in lower CIF divisions, even winning the Division 10 title in

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