Prep football: No small consolation

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Now that the Costa Mesa High football team has

qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division IX playoffs, what the

Mustangs do tonight might help determine how long they’ll be able to

extend their postseason run.

Mesa (7-2, 3-1 in the Pacific Coast League) hosts University (6-2,

3-1) at 7 o’clock at Orange Coast College in a PCL battle for, at the

very least, second place.

Tonight’s winner could still earn a share of the league crown, should

Corona del Mar upset unbeaten Northwood tonight. But, either way, the

best the Mustangs and Trojans could do would be the league’s No. 2

playoff designation, since both have already lost to Northwood.

No. 2, of course, is significantly better than No. 3, since the latter

means a first-round road game, most likely against a league champion.

Should Uni, ranked No. 4 in CIF Division IX, prevail, it would almost

certainly open the playoffs at home next week, perhaps even against a

third-place team.

Mesa Coach Dave Perkins believes a victory would make his team an

odds-on favorite to host a first-round playoff contest, though the

Mustangs are unranked in the division.

Both teams share several similarities and Perkins is expecting a

fierce battle.

“I think its an evenly matched football game, which will come down to

who plays well (tonight),” Perkins said. “I think special teams could be

a big deal and both teams have been opportunistic with turnovers, so the

team that holds onto the ball should have an edge.”

Costa Mesa has an impressive plus-17 turnover ratio, but Uni may have

the edge in the kicking game, where senior Chris Sprague has kicked seven

field goals, with a long of 42 yards.

Neither team takes many chances with its passing game, relying instead

on a physical offensive line and some talented ball carriers to move the

chains, eat up the clock and put points on the scoreboard.

Costa Mesa, with junior fullback Keola Asuega, senior tailback Nick

Cabico and wingbacks Freddy Rodriguez and Omar Ruiz, spreads the ball

around more in its running game.

Asuega has amassed 940 yards and 14 touchdowns on 135 carries this fall, while Cabico has collected 683 yards and six TDs on 92 attempts.

Cabico also has a pair of touchdown receptions.

Rodriguez and Ruiz have combined for nearly 500 rushing yards and

eight TDs on just 61 combined carries.

University quarterback Nick Gerakos, on the other hand, delivers most

of his handoffs, pitches and passes to senior Scott Pickett. The league’s

leading rusher has produced 1,133 yards and 15 touchdowns on 145 carries

and is also the team’s leading receiver with 19 catches for 393 yards and

three TDs. He has also scored a touchdown on a punt return this season

and his 114 points are fourth most in Orange County.

“Oh boy, you have to stop Pickett,” Perkins said. “He’s their go-to

guy and they put him in a lot of different places. He’s a real

disciplined runner who has a good sense of when to cut behind his

blockers. And, when they use him on the dive, he hits the hole like a

rocket. He’s tough to tackle, so you have to get him before he gets

going. If the first or second guy doesn’t get him, he’s usually going to

score.”

The Costa Mesa defense prevented CdM from scoring last week in a

crucial 17-0 triumph and Perkins believes the unit led by senior inside

linebacker Bobby Arroyo, as well as safeties Cabico and Rodriguez, is

peaking at the correct time.

“I think we’ve had some focus problems with all the things that have

gone on this year,” Perkins said. “But I think last week was a breakout

game.”

Both defenses will focus on stopping the opponent’s running game,

hoping to force the quarterbacks to make plays.

Costa Mesa senior A.J. Perkins has completed 45 of 117 passes for 506

yards and seven TDs, but has thrown only two interceptions.

Gerakos, a 6-foot-3 junior, has connected on 56 of 109 passes for 908

yards and eight TDs, with four interceptions.

Rodriguez and Cabico have five interceptions apiece and Mesa has 16

picks this fall.