Prep football: Invading Lions’ den

Barry Faulkner

WESTMINSTER - Consider Friday’s 7 p.m. nonleague football showdown

between Costa Mesa High and host Westminster a dress rehearsal.

When the two schools collide next year, it will be as Golden West

League rivals. For now, however, the Mustangs are merely hoping to extend

a preleague procession that opened impressively last week against

Saddleback, another future Golden West League foe, which succumbed,

39-13.

Westminster opened its season with a 35-14 loss to Pacifica, extending

it’s losing streak to three games. Including a 41-7 first-round ouster in

the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs last

fall, the Lions have been outscored their last three games, 147-21.

Further, only four Orange County schools averaged fewer points per game

than the Lions’ 9.2 last fall.

The Mustangs’ opening output, meanwhile, was surpassed by only six

county schools and was the sixth-best scoring performance in an opener in

the school’s 42 varsity seasons.

First-year Mesa coach Dave Perkins, whose last three Estancia High

teams have battled inconsistency, said he foresees no letdown by his

Mustangs this week.

“I don’t get the sense a letdown will be a problem for these Mesa

kids,” Perkins said. “I think there is excitement about our team, but we

don’t believe we are world beaters. We saw ourselves on film, so I think

we realize there are areas where we need to improve.”

Coaches, by nature, embrace imperfection, but Mesa’s offensive

performance last week left little to be desired.

The Mustangs rolled up 337 rushing yards and threw for 92 more to earn

their fifth straight season-opening win.

Junior tailback Keola Asuega collected 129 yards on 15 carries (an

8.6-yard average), while senior wingback Nick Cabico added 117 on 13

attempts (9 yards a crack).

Senior fullback Jesse Cardenas picked up 64 yards on 12 carries, while

senior quarterback A.J. Perkins completed 9 of 17 passes, including three

TDs, two of which went to Cabico.

Junior Nathan Hunter was Perkins’ favorite target, hauling in six

passes for 58 yards.

The Mustangs’ combination wing T and fly offensive scheme will go

against a Westminster defense that surrendered scoring runs of 83, 53 and

50 yards last week to Pacifica running back David Heller, who finished

with 206 yards on 14 carries.

Starting guards Robert McQueen and Andrew Carich, tackles Paul Martin

and Zenri Kato, as well as center Brett Via, will try to continue to

create running room for Mustang ball carriers.

Westminster’s offensive thrust is keyed by senior running back Jared

Jenkins, a former Punt, Pass and Kick champion. Jenkins rushed for 136

yards and one touchdown on 24 carries, caught 15 passes for 54 more and

handled kicking chores for Coach Ted McMillen.

“Jenkins is a real good football player,” Perkins said. “He’s all over

the field for them. They have a good draw and screen package and they use

a lot of motion to try and create an advantage.”

Junior quarterback Fidel Gonzalez completed 10 of 21 passes for 73

yards, with two interceptions, against Pacifica, which led, 35-0, after

three quarters.

The Mesa defense received strong play last week from senior noseguard

Doug Amburgey and linebackers Matt Colby, Bobby Arroyo and Jose Valle

(one interception). Senior safety Freddy Rodriguez also had an

interception against Saddleback.

But Dave Perkins said he hopes to see more aggressiveness on that side

of the ball this week.

Westminster, which leads the series with Mesa, 4-1, is 0-6-1 in its

last seven games against teams not in the Golden West League, 1-9-1 in

its last 11 in games outside of league play.