Old-school showdown

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - When Jerry Witte began his coaching career at

Saddleback High, Riddell, not Nike, produced the football footwear of

choice, disco was still a rumor and Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky had yet to

become a cultural icon.

So, when Costa Mesa High’s nonleague season opener against the

Roadrunners kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College, Coach

Jerry Howell and his Mustangs can expect an old-school struggle.

When it comes to offensive innovation, the Mustangs have been more

nostalgic than new wave the last few seasons. But Howell spent the

off-season insisting his newly installed wing T would reintroduce the

forward pass to Mustang rooters this fall.

Nearly half (13) of Mesa’s 29 plays in Saturday’s scrimmage with Calvary

Chapel were destined for the airways and Mustang quarterbacks Dave Weir

and Patrick Hulliger figure to test Saddleback’s three-man secondary.

But with its frequent-flier program still in development, the Mustangs,

ranked third in CIF Southern Section Division IX, will need to rely on

the smashmouth running game which led them to a school-record three

straight trips to the CIF playoffs.

Mesa, 6-5 a year ago, but hoping to halt a two-game losing streak, will

rely on junior Arizona transfer C.J. Zuniga, as well as senior reserve

Greg Stewart, to spearhead the running game at tailback.

Junior Antony Grubisich, a 260-pound battering ram, will open at

fullback, though Zuniga will spell him when Stewart, the PCL champion

last spring at 100 and 200 meters, enters the lineup.

Weir, who completed 17 of 54 for 383 yards and three touchdowns as a

junior, gets the starting assignment. Two of his three completions

against Calvary Chapel went for touchdowns.

Hulliger, a junior, completed 3 of 5 for one TD in the scrimmage and,

Howell says, will see some action under center.

Senior Shaun Ferryman, an All-Pacific Coast League tight end last fall,

shifts to wide receiver, where he teams with Louis Day to form a tall and

talented pass-catching tandem. Both 6-foot-3 with superior leaping

ability) and both caught high-arcing aerials against Calvary Chapel.

Ferryman caught 15 passes for 238 yards last fall (nearly 58% of the

team’s receptions) and Howell predicts he could triple that output this

season.

Senior Eliseo Martinez, an All-Newport-Mesa District guard last fall,

anchors an offensive line which includes returning starter Eric Connaty.

The group averages 275 pounds from tackle to tackle.

On defense, coordinator Tom Baldwin, who at 68 predates Witte’s arrival

in the Orange County coaching ranks by several seasons, will unleash an

aggressive, four-four attack which features all-district performers

Ferryman, Jason Rankin and Weir at linebacker.

The Mesa defense dominated Calvary Chapel, prompting Eagle coaches to

cancel the final 24 scheduled plays in order to ensure their players

would escape with all their limbs pointing the proper direction.

The Mustangs, however, do not have a just one returning starter on the

front four (though end Todd Duddridge started last season at safety and

outside linebacker) and none in the secondary.

Daniel Hunter and Fernando Aronna join Duddridge and returning tackle

Grubisich up front, while corners Stewart and Jake Cleveland flank free

safety Willy Franco in the secondary.

Franco (tight end) joins Ferryman, Weir Grubisich as the team’s only

two-way starters. This represents a decrease in Mustangs asked to pull

double duty in recent years.

“We think we’ve found players at most positions,” Howell said. “We just

need to make a few adjustments in how we execute.”

Saddleback, on the other hand, will stick to the same schemes with which

Witte has become familiar. These are a stunting four-four defense and a

simple, but diverse offense which features an option running game and

just enough passing to keep keep defenses honest.

Victor Ortiz, a 5-7, 152-pound senior, will start at quarterback. He

completed 29 of 61 for 377 yards and four TDs last fall, before injury

brought a premature end to his campaign.

Second-team All-Golden West League running back Joel Gonzalez returns and

senior returning receiver Jesse Romero was second-team all-league as a

defensive back. Romero is one of only two returning starters on defense.

“Their quarterback ran the option well and their tailback stood out,”

Howell said after reviewing video of Saddleback’s scrimmage with Century.

“But they didn’t have numbers on their jerseys, so it was hard to tell

who was who.”

Saddleback finished 4-6-1 last fall, continuing a trend of making the

playoffs in alternate seasons since 1994.

The Roadrunners were unbeaten in six games against Mesa, before the

Mustangs won the last two season openers.

The Mustangs are 7-2 in season debuts in the ‘90s and could even their

record in 40 openers with a victory.