Best Western

Barry Faulkner

ANAHEIM - While politics and television continually show polling to

be an inexact science, tonight’s 7 o’clock nonleague football game

between Costa Mesa High and host Western could provide further proof.

For though the visitors (3-0) are ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern

Section Division IX poll, five spots ahead of the Pioneers (1-2), Mesa

Coach Jerry Howell agrees with those who tab Western as a three-point

favorite.

“Anybody who says we’re not the underdog, hasn’t looked at the (game)

videotape,” Howell said.

The Mustangs’ three-game highlight reel has been accumulated at the

expense of Saddleback, Bolsa Grande and Westminster, schools with a

combined 2-7 record. Mesa has outscored these victims, 91-25, nearly

doubling them in total offense (925 yards to 508).

Western, which hammered the Mustangs, 48-6, last season -- the program’s

most lopsided loss since 1963 -- bounced back from losses to Loara and El

Toro (by a combined eight points) to trounce Rancho Alamitos, 54-8, last

week.

The rugged competition hasn’t kept the Pioneers from averaging 40 points

per game, though they have surrendered more than 27 per contest.

“They’re so explosive,” Howell said of the Orange League representative,

coached by Toby Howell (no relation). “They were a landslide last week

for poor old Rancho. If we can play with them, let alone beat them, we

can play with anyone in this division. There can’t be a team in the

division with more talent than Western.”

The Pioneers have less talent than they started with last week, as

starting fullback Chris Jackson tore a hip muscle on the opening kickoff

against Rancho and is out indefinitely.

Backfield talent still abounds, however, including senior wingbacks

Jamiah Williamson and Will Ruffin, as well as sophomore quarterback Mike

Hicks.

Williamson has 265 rushing yards on 38 carries. Costa Mesa is familiar

with him, after he amassed 337 yards rushing and receiving and scored

four touchdowns in last year’s blowout.

Ruffin, who scored on a 42-yard pass play against Mesa last season, had

102 yards on 10 carries against Rancho. He also has two interceptions as

a defensive back.

Hicks has thrown for 330 yards and seven touchdowns in his young varsity

career, completing 20 of 38 with only one interception.

“And their linemen are big and they’re legitimate athletes,” Jerry Howell

said.

Mesa brings a legitimate defense of its own into tonight’s clash, having

surrendered just 219 rushing yards, including a combined 19 the last two

weeks.

Senior linebackers Shaun Ferryman, Jason Rankin and Dave Weir spearhead

the unit, which was bolstered last week by the return of senior end

Robert Hulliger.

Hulliger, however, has quit the team again, this time for good, according

to Howell, and will be replaced by Daniel Hunter.

Weir also triggers the offense at quarterback, where he has completed 13

of 24 passes for 242 yards and three TDs.

Junior tailback C.J. Zuniga, fresh off a career-high 35 carries and 196

rushing yards against Westminster, can’t be asked to duplicate that

workload, according to his coach.

“We really need to throw the ball this week,” said Howell, who has

preached offensive balance, but has found it difficult to avoid the

ground-oriented conservatism which has been a Mesa trademark most of the

decade.

Ferryman, with five receptions for 91 yards and two TDs, is the leading

receiver.

The Mustangs, attempting to join the 1997 edition as the only Mesa team

to open a season 4-0, have not beaten Western in four previous tries.

After a 7-7 tie in their first meeting in 1962, Western has outscored the

Mustangs, 123-6, in three straight wins.

“They made us look silly last year,” Howell said of the Pioneers. “It

took a couple of weeks for our kids to psychologically get over the fact

that they beat us so easily.”