Football: Uni manhandles Mesa, 42-14

Richard Dunn

IRVINE - As University High’s Trojans lined up their kings and

queens Friday night for homecoming, Costa Mesa could only reveal a pair

of twos at the end.

Playing only for pride, Coach Jerry Howell’s Mustangs ran into a

balanced offensive attack by the Pacific Coast League leaders, as the

host Trojans defeated Costa Mesa, 42-14, at Irvine High.

For the Mustangs (5-4, 1-3 in PCL) close out PCL play against

Northwood Thursday. But, against the Trojans (7-2, 4-0), ranked No. 6 in

CIF Division IX and winners of seven of their last eight, the Mustangs

seemed short on hope.

Aside from sophomore tailback Keola Asuega and his 136 rushing yards

on 26 carries, and quarterback Patrick Hulliger’s two long passes to

Louis Day, including a 22-yard scoring toss, Costa Mesa had few

highlights.

At the end of the first half, however, the Mustangs chipped away at

Uni’s 21-0 lead with a late touchdown, giving Howell and his crew some

badly needed halftime momentum.

Uni, which will try to keep its PCL record unblemished against Corona

del Mar next week, went ahead by three touchdowns after Nephi Wheeler

carried 36 yards to the Mesa 1-yard line, then bolted into the end zone

with 1:54 left in the second quarter.

Mesa started the ensuing drive at the Uni 24, but a 50-yard pass from

Hulliger to Day gave the offense life. Day caught Hulliger’s pass at

midfield and turned the play into a long gain, before Uni’s Scott Pickett

saved a touchdown.

But, on the next play and 0:17 on the clock, Hulliger fired to Day

again, this time on a flea-flicker, and Mesa was on the board. Luis

Avalos added the point-after.

University scored first after recovering a Mesa fumble, then the

Trojans scored on the first play of the second quarter, following a

personal foul on Mesa that gave Uni a first down at the Mustang 30.

Uni scored on three straight possessions in the second half. Trojans

quarterback Jay Nichols completed 9 of 12 passes for 181 yards and three

touchdowns with no interceptions, while three ballcarries rushed for

individual totals of 46, 55 and 56 yards.

Mesa scored again in the fourth quarter, driving 80 yards on 12 plays,

while using more than five minutes on the clock.