Prep football: Postseason dreams

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Though some restrictions still apply, the winner of

Friday’s 7 p.m. Pacific Coast League football game between Costa Mesa

High and designated host Corona del Mar has reason to believe it will

have secured an invitation to the CIF Southern Section Division IX

playoffs.

Both the Sea Kings (5-2-1, 2-1 in league) and the Mustangs (6-2, 2-1)

could also remain in contention for the PCL crown with a victory at

Orange Coast College.

The myriad scenarios that could determine the top three spots in the

PCL standings are almost too vast to fully cover with two games remaining

in the league campaign.

But both coaches have a simple message for their players regarding

this week’s intra-district encounter.

“This is basically to get into the playoffs,” said CdM Coach Dick

Freeman, whose squad is ranked No. 8 in CIF Division IX.

Mesa Coach Dave Perkins echoed his counterpart’s belief, though he was

a little more emphatic.

“If we win this week, we’re in the playoffs,” Perkins said. “There

would be no way to keep us out. If we win, we’re in.”

Technically, the CdM-Mesa winner could still be forced out of a

top-three scenario, especially since CdM faces unbeaten Northwood next

week and Mesa squares off against a University team ranked No. 6 in

Division IX. CdM, Mesa and Uni could very easily all wind up tied for

second with 3-2 league records, necessitating a coin flip to eliminate

one school from an automatic berth.

But, even in such a scenario, a win Friday would give CdM its sixth

victory and Mesa its seventh. Those numbers, combined with the PCL’s

dominance in the Division IX rankings, would make either team, should

they lose a coin flip, a prohibitive favorite to earn the division’s lone

at-large berth.

CdM, however, could claim at least a share of the league championship

by winning the next two weeks and Coach Dick Freeman believes it could

happen.

“It’s not above and beyond the realm of possibility,” Freeman said. “I

really think our kids believe they can do it.”

Even with wins the next two weeks, Mesa would need Northwood to lose

at least once to earn a share of the PCL crown.

Both programs, however, spent more time studying their opponent than

the league standings this week.

“Defensively, we have to stop their run,” Freeman said. “And,

offensively, we need to throw the ball better, hit some big plays and

control the ball.”

Perkins also said ball control will be a key.

Both offenses have seen success on the ground, but CdM has 422 more

passing yards than Mesa.

“(The Sea Kings) have demonstrated they can throw the ball, but our

defense has played pretty well against the pass,” said Perkins, whose

squad has 15 interceptions. Senior safeties Nick Cabico and Freddy

Rodriguez have five and four interceptions, respectively.

Mesa is led offensively by junior fullback Keola Asuega and wingback

Cabico. Asuega has 849 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 119 attempts

and one of his 10 games with at least 100 yards came in last year’s 37-7

loss to the Sea Kings.

Cabico has rushed for 563 yards on 76 carries and six of his eight TDs

have come via the run.

Senior quarterback A.J. Perkins triggers the Mesa passing game, which

has averaged just five completions and 50 yards per game in league.

Perkins has completed 45 of 113 for 506 yards and seven TDs and senior

tight end John Garcia is the only Mustang with double-figure receptions

(11 for 179 yards and two TDs).

CdM’s offense has improved its running game greatly, thanks in large

part to junior Mark Cianciulli, who has averaged nearly 187 yards in

three league games. Cianciulli has surpassed the 200-yard plateau each of

the last two weeks, including an inspiring 204-yard, three-TD effort

against Laguna Beach Friday, mere hours after learning his father, Hugo,

had died of a heart attack. Cianciulli has 891 yards and eight TDs on 146

carries this fall.

CdM senior quarterback Dylan Hendy has also stepped up his game in

league. He has completed 49 of 91 passes for 690 yards and six TDs

against PCL defenses, without an interception. For the season, he is 74

of 140 for 986 yards and eight TDs, with four interceptions.

The CdM receiving corps is led by senior wideout Steven Ward, who has

24 receptions, tops in the Newport-Mesa District, for 345 yards and five

TDs.

Another key factor could be turnovers, where Mesa holds the clear

advantage. The Mustangs are plus-15 in turnover ratio, while CdM is

minus-one.

This is the 32nd meeting between the two schools, which will not play

next season when the Mustangs venture to the Golden West League. CdM

leads the series, 24-7, but the last four have been split.