Prep football: Mustangs, Panthers go wild

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Technically, you’d call it a controlled scrimmage. But

when the football teams from Costa Mesa High and visiting Orange

exchanged nearly 900 yards of offense, nine touchdowns and even a few

pointed words, out of control might be a better description.

“I thought I was in a (Western Athletic Conference) game,” said Costa

Mesa Coach Dave Perkins, after more then two hours parading up and down

the field.

Mesa displayed an explosive, though sporadic offense, while Orange

cashed in big plays to win the touchdown battle, 5-4.

Mesa senior Nick Cabico rushed five times for 108 yards, including

touchdown scampers of 56 and 9 yards. He also caught three passes for 36

yards.

Junior running back Keola Asuega split his 126 yards nearly evenly

between rushing (11 carries for 66 yards) and his five receptions.

Senior fullback Jesse Cardenas carried eight times for 40 yards,

including TDs of 5 and 2 yards, and also caught a pass for a 21-yard

pickup.

Senior quarterback A.J. Perkins played every snap for the Mustangs,

completing 17 of 36 passes for 234 yards. He had a TD pass nullified by a

penalty and his only interception was returned 50 yards for a touchdown.

“Our offense did what I thought it would, which was go up and down the

field, so I’m pleased with that,” Dave Perkins said.

“Defensively, we didn’t know much about the opponent and they ran some

veer and option, which we made some mistakes on. I thought we could have

been a little more aggressive on defense.”

Orange rolled up 262 rushing yards and two TDs on 37 attempts and

completed 7 of 18 passes for 133 yards. But two of those completions were

scoring bombs of 47 and 31 yards, as Panther receivers twice got behind

the Mustangs’ secondary.

Perkins credited Orange, coached by former Orange Coast College player

Greg Gibson, who also coached at Estancia, with great improvement over

last year. The Panthers are coming off an 0-10 season and are 1-29 the

last three years.

“Their quarterback was very quick, shifty and hard to handle,” Dave

Perkins said. “He gave us some problems.”

The Mesa defense also made some plays. Mustang tacklers nailed ball

carriers behind the line seven times.

Outside linebacker Andrew Strickland forced a fumble with a big hit

and Asuega recovered to end one Orange drive and senior safety Freddy

Rodriguez made a leaping interception.

Senior end Robert McQueen consistently penetrated into the Orange

backfield, while outside linebacker Matt Colby also made some solid hits.

The Mustangs, who will try to polish up for Friday’s season opener

against Saddleback, escaped without injury, which is always the primary

goal in a scrimmage setting.

Junior wideout Nathan Hunter had five catches for 73 yards to add to

the offensive numbers for the hosts.

The teams alternated possessions, starting from generally their own

40-yard line and continuing until they were held without a first down.