Freshman football: Costa Mesa runs to a league title
Steve Virgen
COSTA MESA - With a chance to win its first Pacific Coast League
championship in five years, the Costa Mesa freshman football team ran to
claim the title, literally.
The Mustangs rushed for 294 yards and four touchdowns in the first
half en route to a 33-14 victory over visiting Northwood, Thursday. The
Mustangs (8-2, 4-1 in league) share the title with University, which
handed them their only PCL defeat.
The running back tandem of Omar Ruiz and Geraldo Villa did most of the
damage in a game that also featured no penalties from either team. Ruiz
ran for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. And Villa’s change of
pace resulted in 139 yards in just six carries. Villa scored Mesa’s first
three touchdowns for a 20-0 lead with under five minutes remaining in the
first half.
As time ran out, players snuck up on Mesa Coach John Carney and doused
him with water in celebration of their championship.
“The kids believed in themselves and in the coaching staff,” Carney
said. “After our first loss, the kids bought into what the coaches were
trying to stress: playing as a team and being a family. They certainly
came together against Northwood.”
The Mustangs scored on their first six possessions and stuffed
Northwood on defense as Mesa turned back the Timberwolves on three
fourth-down attempts. Northwood also punted twice, one for 6 yards early
in the third quarter.
Mesa took advantage with an eight-play, 47-yard scoring drive with
Ruiz ending it on an 18-yard touchdown. Ruiz, who broke the school’s
freshman single-game rushing record against University, finished the
season with 1,609 yards and 18 touchdowns on 168 carries. Against
University, he broke Jimmy Herzog’s freshman record of 318 yards on 41
carries. Ruiz ran for 331 yards on 33 carries. He also scored four
touchdowns and two two-point conversions.
“It’s exciting to see the kinds of kids we’re having play at Mesa,”
Carney said. “The outstanding group this year really loves football and
they are talented players who play with intensity. We had to do some fun
activities during the week because they just couldn’t wait for Thursday.”
Against Northwood, Villa scored on runs of 18, 20 and 68. His 20-yard
touchdown came after he scooped up a fumble.
Ruiz’s scored on a 79-yard run with 44 seconds remaining before
halftime.
Both Ruiz and Villa were quick to credit their offensive line after
the game. Villa said he wouldn’t have done anything if it wasn’t for the
heroics of the blockers up front.
Mesa’s offensive line includes Gary Hernandez, Zenri Kato, David
Vernotico, Andrew MacIntosh, Brett Via, Eric Reyes, Jarrod Clever and
Andrew Miller.
After the game, the linemen, along with the rest of the Mustangs,
formed a huddle in the shape of a C to represent “champions”. After every
victory this season, Mesa has huddled in a V-shape as players share jokes
and shake hands with assistant coaches, George Greenwalt, Brad Gray and
Kirk Bauermeister.
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