Prep football Bravehearts: Costa Mesa defensive line

Barry Faulkner

Unlike some of their peers, defensive linemen on the Costa Mesa

High football team are asked to make plays, not piles.

But, when it comes to unleashing a rare blend of bulk, strength and

quickness, the Mustangs can pile on offensive rivals with a deep and

motivated collection of trench warriors.

“We can give teams a different look, even at the same position,” said

Costa Mesa Coach Dave Perkins, who utilized a two-deep rotation to help

earn a 21-6 Pacific Coast League victory over crosstown rival Estancia in

the Battle for the Bell Friday at Orange Coast College.

Defensive ends Jesse Cardenas (5-foot-9, 230 pounds) and Borotha Pov

(5-10, 300) provide plenty of muscle, while tackles Doug Amburgey (5-7,

155) and Andrew Strickland (5-11, 190) add a mercurial element to the

starting front four.

And, with plenty of assistant coaches to monitor performance, the

likes of Brian Rayner, Junior Epenesa, Eric Reyes and Kenny Bun are

always ready to contribute when duty calls.

“If somebody messes up, they’re out of there,” said Perkins, who also

gives defensive line coach Jesse Nuno the option to insert fresh horses,

even when those on the field are getting the job done.

That job Friday included limiting Estancia’s veer option offense to

149 total yards, 95 on the ground.

“Those guys really deserve the credit,” Perkins said of his first line

of defense, which used a variety of techniques to conquer the neutral

zone.

“We had guys assigned to knocking their tackle as far into the

backfield as possible, while the other side slanted to the strength of

the field,” Perkins said.

Whether with sheer mass or extreme movement, this stable of Mustangs

can present problems for blockers.

“Amburgey has been playing great, ever since we changed our defense

from the double flex (to a four-three),” Perkins said of the diminutive

senior. “He is always slanting and moving and the new defense really

suits him well.”

Strickland, a senior who was a backup quarterback last fall and played

outside linebacker early this season, has also benefited from the new

scheme. After coming back from a stinger injury, he has earned a starting

job.

“He read a screen pass and made an interception, caused a fumble and

was in on eight tackles,” Perkins said of the team’s Defensive Player of

the Week. “His quickness is really a weapon and we can also move him to

end, especially in pass-rush situations.”

Cardenas, surprisingly nimble for his size, can contribute stuffing

the run or even dropping into pass coverage.

“Jesse just hammers people, but he can also play in space,” Perkins

said of the senior who began the season at fullback. “He does a pretty

good job running around in pass coverage.”

Pov, a junior, was a nose guard in the double flex. Now, he brings

supreme leverage off the edge.

“When he gets his 280 pounds moving forward, he can do some damage,”

Perkins said.