Prep football: Answering the Bell

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - If the the Costa Mesa High football depth chart could

be broken down in topographical terms, the one-third of the Mustangs’

world that wasn’t covered by water would be covered by transfers.

Players who formerly competed elsewhere are in line to capture seven

of the 22 starting berths on offense and defense, including one two-way

standout.

And while the roster includes seven former Estancia players, as well

as one more who used to call Calvary Chapel home, nearly that many

members of the 10-man coaching staff have also elected to trade their red

and gold Estancia gear -- and, for a handful who played for the Eagles, a

lifetime of allegiance -- for Mesa’s green and black attire.

Indeed, you may not be able to tell this year’s players without a

program, unless that program is from last year’s Battle for the Bell.

Such reinforcements, including four players who earned all-league

honors in other uniforms, have bolstered an already talented group of

varsity returners, as well as a several promising sophomores.

The result is a 65-player roster that Coach Dave Perkins predicts will

disperse quite nicely onto a depth chart. That depth chart could, Perkins

believes, continue to change, at least through the five-week preleague

campaign, due to extreme competition.

Perkins, in fact, is so enthused about his wealth of athleticism, he

has predicted his special teams alone could be worth the price of

admission.

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown:

Quarterback: Andrew Strickland, who made two starts and completed 6 of

12 passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns last year as a junior backup,

will concentrate on defense, while senior Estancia transfer A.J. Perkins,

who accompanied his father across town, assumes the controls of the

combined wing T and fly scheme Dave Perkins calls the Pegasus offense.

A.J. Perkins (5-foot-10, 175 pounds), saw spot duty as a backup at

Estancia last season, completing 3 of 8 attempts for 28 yards and 1 TD.

He also rushed for 11 yards on six carries and started seven games at

cornerback.

He has worked hard to strengthen his game, attending frequent

offseason sessions at a renowned passing school run by Mission Viejo head

coach Bob Johnson. Dave Perkins, who calls the plays, believes his son is

ready for a productive campaign.

“His feet and his quickness are really exceptional,” Dave Perkins

said. “He won’t give us the home run (deep ball), but he can throw the

20-yard drag routes very effectively.”

The younger Perkins will also be counted upon in the option game his

father has added to an already complex hybrid of formations.

“(A.J.) understands our offense probably better than I do,” Dave

Perkins said.

The elder Perkins said a lot of the passing game will be based on

play-action, similar to last year at Estancia.

Brian Knox, who showed great promise on the freshman team last year,

is the primary backup, while junior Tim Iller will supply additional

depth.

Running backs: Adding senior Estancia transfer Freddy Rodriguez and

shifty sophomore Omar Ruiz to returners Keola Asuega and Nick Cabico

gives the Mustangs an embarrassment of backfield riches.

And that doesn’t even include three talented fullbacks.

Asuega, a 6-0, 190-pound junior, posted six 100-yard-plus games in his

debut varsity campaign last year, en route to 834 yards and 13 TDs on 156

carries. He’ll start at tailback, a position that could also be

considered a wingback.

“Keola is big and fast and he’s really done a good job of providing

leadership so far,” Perkins said.

Perkins also believes Asuega, who had three receptions for 19 yards

last season, could be a dangerous pass-catching threat.

Pass catching is half the game for Cabico, a 5-8, 145-pound senior with enough moves to embarrass a busload of would-be tacklers.

He rushed for 541 yards on only 54 carries and caught 17 passes for

465 more yards. His 10 TDs, one of which he scored after procuring one of

his three interceptions, were second only to Asuega. He gained 392 of his

rushing yards in the first and last games of the season, capping his year

with a 245-yard, three-TD explosion in only 12 carries against Northwood.

Perkins will utilize him at wingback, which in some sets would be more

accurately termed a flanker.

“(Cabico is) just a doggone jet, who can really get around the corner

as the motion man in our fly,” Perkins said.

Ruiz, who had a prolific freshman campaign, will back up Asuega at

tailback, while Rodriguez, who collected 140 yards and two TDs on 21

rushes last year, will share wingback duty with Cabico.

“With Keola and Omar on one side and Nick and Freddy on the other,

defenses aren’t going to be able to stack one side,” Perkins said.

Senior Jesse Cardenas (5-9, 230), who cashed his only carry for

Estancia last year for a touchdown, has earned the nod at fullback, where

sophomore Junior Epenesa (6-2, 215) and senior Benedick David should

provide quality depth.

“(Cardenas) is like a bowling ball running down the field,” Perkins

said.

Receivers: Cabico is more than an honorary member of this fraternity,

which includes starting junior wide receiver Nathan Hunter. Perkins

praised Hunter (5-11, 150) for his consistent spring and summer.

“He’s fast, having been timed in the low 4.7s in the 40-yard dash, and

tough and and he’ll make some big plays,” Perkins said.

Junior Tyler Waldron (5-10, 165) will also see action at wideout,

where junior newcomer Danny Krikorian (6-1, 155), a two-year member of

the varsity basketball team, figures to add athleticism.

Tight end: Senior Calvary Chapel transfer John Garcia (6-2, 225)

brings a physical blocking presence to the position, but Perkins believes

he should not be taken for granted as a receiver.

“Blocking is his forte, but he can get open and catch the ball,”

Perkins said.

The play-action passing game Perkins utilized at Estancia featured the

tight end. Senior Dave Stoddard averaged nearly 26 yards on 24 catches

last fall for the Eagles.

Senior Jose Valle and sophomore Gary Gonzalez are the backups.

Offensive line: Junior Andrew Carich (5-10, 275), started all 10 games

last fall and he’ll anchor this group at left guard.

Senior Robert McQueen (6-2, 245), who started eight games on defense

as a junior, will be the right guard, teaming with Carich to form a duo

Perkins will frequently ask to pull.

“When we first started, we ran the guards so much, those guys weren’t

sure they wanted to play guard,” Perkins said. “It hasn’t been easy, but

they’ve adapted.”

Junior Paul Martin (6-2, 280), who started four games last year, will

start at left tackle.

Sophomore right tackle Zenri Kato (6-1, 250) will be joined on the

starting front wall by junior center Jesse Franco (5-7, 165).

Perkins cites the offensive line as the leading question mark, going

into the Sept. 7 opener against Saddleback. But, Perkins has confidence

that respected veteran line coach Al Dies, who has come out of

retirement, as well as first-year assistant Donny Garcia, will be able to

create a productive unit.

Junior James Paulsen and sophomore George Gemayel are the backups at

tackle, while sophomore Brett Via and senior Doug Amburgey provide depth

at guard and center, respectively.

Defensive line: Jesse Cardenas and Robert McQueen are the projected

starters at end, with Doug Amburgey (5-7, 155) the front-runner at

noseguard.

Cardenas started eight games at noseguard last year at Estancia and he

was in on one sack.

McQueen started six games at inside linebacker as a junior, before

being shifted to defensive tackle, where he started twice. He was in on

four sacks last fall.

Junior Borotha Pov (5-10, 300) and Andrew Carich add beefier

alternatives at nose, while Benedick David and sophomore Eric Reyes (5-6,

235) should supply depth at end.

David, extremely quick, could become a dangerous pass rusher, while

Reyes is already among the strongest players on the team.

Perkins said Reyes bench presses more than 300 pounds and squats 525.

Linebackers: Senior Bobby Arroyo (5-10, 220), a first-team All-Pacific

Coast League performer last fall, and fellow Estancia transfer Matt Colby

(6-0, 190) second-team all-league as a junior, supply established

standouts at inside and outside linebacker, respectively.

Arroyo trailed only PCL Defensive Player of the Year Fahad Jahid on

the Eagle tackle chart last season and Perkins loves his nose for the

ball.

“He’s not the fastest guy around, but he reads really well and he gets

to where he’s supposed to be,” Perkins said.

Arroyo had one interception last season.

Colby was in on three sacks last fall and Perkins said his strength is

his ability to maintain discipline and avoid mistakes.

Junior Epenesa, though lacking varsity experience, could quickly

assert himself as a force at middle linebacker, according to Perkins.

“He loves to hit people and he can run,” Perkins said. “We had him at

defensive end, but we decided to put him in the middle, so teams couldn’t

run away from him.”

Jose Valle (5-11, 200) is slated to start at the other inside ‘backer

spot, while senior Kenny Bun (5-10, 170) should open the season as the

other starting outside linebacker.

Gary Gonzalez is the leading backup in the middle, while John Garcia,

who starts at tight end, should see action inside.

Senior Andrew Strickland, junior Eric Lilly and sophomore Marvin

Ramirez are candidates to see time at outside ‘backer.

Perkins believes quickness will be the leading attribute of his front

eight.

Secondary: Freddy Rodriguez, second-team all-league in his second year

as the starting safety at Estancia last fall, brings experience to the

starting threesome. He had three interceptions as a junior.

Nick Cabico, a returning starter at cornerback, also had three

interceptions. Perkins, however, said Cabico’s offensive workload will

mean he’ll be rested frequently on defense.

Sophomore Luis Gonzalez (5-7, 125) appears to have won the battle for

the other cornerback spot.

Tyler Waldron and Keola Asuega could help out at safety, while Omar

Ruiz and senior Cesar Marquina add depth on the corners.

Kicking game: Freddy Rodriguez will handle punting chores, as he did

last year at Estancia, and will also kick off. Perkins believes

Rodriguez’s ability to consistently boom kickoffs near the opponent’s

goal line, will help the Mustangs win the field-position battle.

Nathan Hunter has impressed Perkins with his place-kicking consistency

from inside 30 yards.

Nick Cabico, Rodriguez and Omar Ruiz are among the return men and

Keola Asuega is an experienced longsnapper.