CM Looking back on ‘98: The one that got away

Barry Faulkner

Costa Mesa -- A fiscal summation of the 1998 Costa Mesa High

football season would include a rather sizable charitable deduction,

according to Coach Jerry Howell.

“We believe we gave away the Pacific Coast League title,” Howell said of

frustrating, error-plaugued league losses to University and Aliso Niguel.

A 30-7 setback to Laguna Hills was later overturned by forfeit, allowing

the Mustangs to claim the league’s third-place playoff berth and extend

their streak of consecutive postseason appearances to a school-best three

years.

But a 53-35 CIF Southern Section Division VI first-round loss to No.

2-seeded Irvine finalized Mesa’s record at 6-5 and left a serious hunger

for more this fall.

Back-to-back shutout victories over Anaheim and cross-town rival

Estancia, which Mesa outscored by a combined 82 points, provided the

high-water mark, as did the individual exploits of All-CIF Southern

Section performers Ricky Martin and Jimmy Herzog.

Martin, a senior cornerback, tied the Orange County single-season

interception record with 13, while Herzog, a junior, rushed for 1,491

yards and scored 18 touchdowns. Herzog, who transferred to Santa

Margarita for his senior season, was the Pacific Coast League and

Newport-Mesa District Offensive Player of the Year.

Juniors Dave Weir and Shaun Ferryman, both two-way starters, were

first-team All-PCL and all-district at safety and tight end,

respectively.

Senior defensive end Gus Sandoval and junior guard Eliseo Martinez earned

similar dual honors.

Junior linebacker Jason Rankin and sophomore place-kicker Luis Avalos

were additional all-district honorees and both were second-team

all-league picks.

Senior offensive tackle Israel Leal made second-team all-league.