Football: Mesa defeats Centennial, 58-20

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - As first impressions go, Costa Mesa High’s Mustangs

might have been a little shocked Friday night in its nonleague football

game against the visitors from Canada.

But, as the Mustangs warmed to the occasion, they found their rhythm

offensively and defeated Centennial of Coquitlam, British Columbia,

58-20, at Newport Harbor High.

“They’re big, and they might be the biggest team we face all year,”

Costa Mesa Coach Dave Perkins said of the Centaurs (1-2), who finished

7-3 last year and advanced to the AAA provincial quarterfinals.

“They pushed us around pretty good tonight. But I didn’t know how big

they were, because I got a roster late and I got a film (Thursday), so we

had to completely readjust. We had planned a whole different defensive

scheme. We exchanged info (early in the week). I guess there was a lack

of communication.”

The Centaurs, whose smashmouth double wing offense was reminiscent of

Costa Mesa teams of yesteryear, featured an offensive front of Richard

Yalowsky (6-foot-5, 265 pounds), Graeme Walter (6-1, 240), Aaron Ross

(6-1, 260), Brennan Poloyko (6-3, 270) and Ryan Rusznak (6-1, 295), while

four other Centaurs tipped the scales at 205 pounds or more.

Running back Reg Bradshaw was the workhorse, carrying for 172 yards

and two touchdowns on 32 attempts, but Costa Mesa took advantage of

Centennial mistakes and used a balanced offense to win easily.

“I thought it would be tougher. I didn’t think I’d get as many yards,”

said Bradshaw, whose 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and

subsequent conversion run, provided Centennial with an 8-6 lead.

After Costa Mesa quarterback A.J. Perkins scored on a 56-yard keeper

around right end on the third play from scrimmage, Centennial responded

with an 88-yard drive lasting almost nine minutes to take the lead.

In the second quarter, Perkins connected with tight end John Garcia on

a 14-yard touchdown pass, then Perkins scored on a conversion run to put

the hosts in front, 14-8, with 8:29 left in the first half. The Mustangs

(2-1) would lead the rest of the way.

Perkins (6 of 15 for 127 yards) also threw a 30-yard scoring pass to

Garcia, while four Costa Mesa ball carriers reached paydirt, led by

Freddy Rodriguez’s two touchdown runs of 13 and 17 yards.

To lead Costa Mesa, Keola Asuega rushed 11 times for 87 yards and one

score. Luis Gonzalez and Omar Ruiz also had touchdown runs for the

Mustangs.

The Mustangs also took advantage of five Centennial turnovers,

including four fumbles. The Centaurs lost three fumbles in the fourth

quarter.

“I just think we wore them down and outmanned them at the end of the

game,” Dave Perkins said.