Into the great unknown

The Costa Mesa High football team ventures to the Chaminade campus

in West Hills Friday for a 7:30 p.m. nonleague contest against the

Eagles. But for all Mustangs Coach Dave Perkins knows about the

Mission League representative, it may as well be the Hidden Hills.

“I know nothing about them,” Perkins said of Coach Bill

Culpepper’s Eagles, who opened their season with a 24-20 loss to

defending CIF Southern Section Division VII champion Paraclete

Friday. “I don’t have a film, a roster, nothing. We had a film

exchange set up, but that didn’t happen. I’m hoping to find something

out by making some phone calls.”

Though they know little about their opponent, the Mustangs learned

much about themselves in last week’s 35-15 nonleague setback against

Corona del Mar.

Foremost among those lessons would be the ability to put a

disappointing debut in perspective and maintain focus on the

long-term goals, such as earning a berth in the CIF Division VII

Playoffs and battling for a Golden West League title.

“One of our goals this year was to play teams that would get us

prepared for league,” Perkins said. “CdM is a very good football team

and we’re just not where they are right now. But playing that kind of

competition is going to get us better and Chaminade should do the

same.”

The Eagles are coming off a 3-7 season that ended a streak of

three straight years in the playoffs. Chaminade was 1-2 in the

Mission League, with its lone league victory over Crespi.

Costa Mesa enters on a three-game losing streak, but should be

bolstered by the return of a pair of standouts who sat out the

opener.

Wingback Daniel Cheeseboro, a junior transfer from Eisenhower, did

not play against CdM while awaiting final eligibility clearance.

“(Cheeseboro) gives us a major threat with his speed,” Perkins

said.

Junior Epenesa, a junior middle linebacker, is also expected to be

cleared to play after being sidelined from early in his sophomore

year by an irregular heartbeat.

Senior Keola Asuega will anchor the Mustang running attack, while

quarterbacks Tim Iller and Brian Knox will continue to trigger the

passing game.

Asuega, a returning All-Pacific Coast League and All-Newport-Mesa

performer, had 79 yards on 19 rushing attempts against CdM, leaving

him just 40 shy of 2,000 career rushing yards.

Iller, a senior who started against CdM, completed 2 of 10 for 43

yards and 1 TD, while Knox, a junior, completed 4 of 5 for 61 yards

and a TD in relief.

Seniors Nate Hunter (four catches for 61 yards and one TD) and

Tyler Waldron (two catches for 43 yards and one TD) are the primary

receiving targets.

Junior outside linebacker Daniel Cooper (two forced fumbles), was

a defensive stalwart in his first varsity start against CdM.

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Directions to Chaminade

North on 405 to 101. West on 101 to Topanga Canyon

turnoff. North on Topanga Canyon, west on Sherman Way, north on

Woodlake, west on Cohasset to Chaminade. School at 7500

Chaminade.