Prep football: Perkins apologetic

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High football coach Dave Perkins said

Friday he regrets and apologizes for his assertion Thursday night that

Northwood ran an illegal play to run up the score during Northwood’s 31-6

victory at Irvine High.

“I got mad and I believe any coach would have been upset,” Perkins

said. “I don’t think it was a planned play and I don’t think they were

trying to deceive us. I will apologize for that.”

Perkins said he also told his players Thursday night that his postgame

conduct was wrong.

Perkins said the death of Mustangs senior linebacker Matt Colby Sept.

29, and the events since, have taken an emotional toll on himself, his

staff and his players. He admitted frayed nerves contributed to his

outburst Thursday night.

Perkins, however, said Curtis failed to diffuse the situation after

the game by offering any explanation for a 43-yard scoring pass that

finalized the scoring with 2:31 left in the game.

Perkins said when Curtis failed to say anything during their postgame

handshake, his anger increased. He also said his initial outburst toward

Northwood assistant coaches came in response to a comment made by a

Northwood assistant.

“If the tables had been reversed, I would have come across the field

and made sure (the opposing coach) understood the whole situation,”

Perkins said.

Costa Mesa Athletic Director Kirk Bauermeister said he faxed the

following statement to Northwood late Thursday night:

“I (wish) to apologize for the actions of our football coaching staff

(Thursday night). It has been a very emotions week and I think that our

emotions got the best of us. I would like to extend to you our deepest

regrets and hope that you will accept our apology. Please extend this

apology to your staff and team as well. I am embarrassed and upset by our

actions tonight and I hope that this will not affect our relationship in

the future.”