Battle for the Bell

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High takes on cross-town and Pacific Coast

League rival Estancia Friday at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College in the

33rd renewal of the football Battle for the Bell.

If you can’t get up for this one ... you must be one of the two head

coaches.

“I can’t say I’m looking forward to it,” said Mesa head man Jerry

Howell, whose Mustangs (4-1 and ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section

Division IX) have won the last three, five of the last six and six of

nine meetings with the Eagles (3-2) in the 1990s.

“I’m real concerned about our inability to throw the ball and not having

(senior tight end Griffin) Crogan (broken arm last week) and Kenny

(Valbuena, a junior quarterback expected to miss his third straight game

with a thigh bruise) is depressing,” Estancia Coach Dave Perkins said.

Howell’s reluctance to embrace the showdown stems from the fervor it

creates on both sidelines.

“It’s an exciting game and always a nerve-wracking week,” Howell

explained. “If I had my druthers, I wouldn’t have a cross-town rival,

because it becomes too much of a war.”

Perkins’ lack of enthusiasm has more to do with the Eagles’ two-game

losing streak, during which they have completed just four passes for 37

yards, and have surrendered nearly double the amount of points (42) they

did in their three victories to open the campaign (25).

“We’re not setting the world on fire throwing the ball and it’s been a

problem because teams have been stacking eight-, nine-, 10-, even 11-man fronts against us,” Perkins said. “Santa Ana Valley (a 21-20 winner over the Eagles last week) had no free safety against us and brought its

corners up in our face. We moved the ball decently, but we’ve got to have

an answer for that.”

The Eagles, who lead the intra-city series, 18-13-1, will be searching

for answers against a Mesa squad many believe can challenge for the PCL

crown.

“If we win this one, we’re off and running and have a good shot at the

league championship,” Howell said.

The Eagles, ranked in the Division IX Top 10 the previous two weeks,

retain hopes of earning their first postseason berth since 1995. Emotion,

as well as the big-play capability provided by senior two-way standout

Marshall Hendricks, could make Estancia a difficult team to look past in

this one.

Hendricks, an Edison transfer playing in his first Battle for the Bell,

has rushed for 802 yards and eight touchdowns on 101 carries. He also

shares the Orange County lead with five interceptions and has returned

two picks for TDs en route to 999 all-purpose yards.

Costa Mesa junior tailback C.J. Zuniga, an Arizona transfer making his

debut against Estancia, has been just as impressive. He has rushed for

909 yards and 11 TDs, has 1,183 all-purpose yards, and returned his only

interception for a TD last week.

“Our No. 2 (Zuniga) and their No. 2 (Hendricks) are going to have their

game,” Howell said. “But what will decide this game is who wins the other

21 matchups.”

Among those who figure to have a hand in that outcome for Estancia are

two-way standouts Kyle Westman, Matt Mueller, Cesar Romero, Josh Veach,

Sean Freeman, Andy Romo, Fahad Jahid and Hendricks.

Mesa’s two-way performers include Dave Weir, Shaun Ferryman, Willy

Franco, Antony Grubisich and Zuniga.

Weir quarterbacks the Mesa offense, which has added the aerial game to

its formerly smashmouth approach. He has completed 26 of 47 for 399 yards

and four TDs, with three interceptions. He has also rushed for 180 yards

and six TDs, including four in last week’s 49-13 win over Brethren

Christian.

Ferryman, a senior wideout, and Franco, a senior tight end, share the

team lead with nine receptions.

Defensively, Mesa’s aggressive four-four scheme is spearheaded by inside

linebackers Ferryman and Jason Rankin. Weir (outside ‘backer) and Franco

(safety) have also been key cogs, while senior end Todd Duddridge anchors

the front four.

Jeremy Valdes, expected to share time with Valbuena, has handled all the

quarterbacking the last two weeks. He has completed 8 of 24 for 102

yards, with only one interception.

Fullbacks Mueller (321 rushing yards) and Jahid (149) are additional

backfield threats.

Linebackers Mueller, Romero and Jahid, as well as end Westman, are strong

run defenders for the Eagles, who have also received consistent play from

sophomore safety Freddy Rodriguez.

Mesa, due to a quirk created by this year’s releaguing, is the designated

home team for the second straight season.