Bravehearts

Barry Faulkner

Before members of the Costa Mesa High defensive line could battle

opposing offenses, they first had to fight their way off the

sideline.

Junior ends Cole Edwards and Marc Daniels found themselves

watching from a distance during some of the early parts of the year,

though Edwards’ sideline view was created by an injury.

In addition, senior Borotha Pov was involved in a rotation at

noseguard, before assuming the position full time.

The unit, which also included additional help at end from Junior

Epenesa, helped shut down Ocean View Friday in the Mustangs’ 26-7 win

to open their inaugural season in the Golden West League.

Edwards, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound former linebacker, was a catalyst

for an effective pass rush, collecting two sacks for 18 yards of

losses. One of his sacks also forced a fumble, though Ocean View

recovered.

In all, the Mustangs sacked Ocean View quarterback Alex Hickerson

three times for minus-26 yards. That total, along with three running

plays stopped behind the line, helped Mesa hold the Seahawks to just

32 yards on the ground.

In addition to the aforementioned runs stuffed for losses of 9, 6

and 1 yards, two Ocean View carries resulted in no gain, one went for

1 yard and a pair picked up 2 yards. The Seahawks’ longest ground

gain was 12 yards and only one other rushing play reached double

digits.

Ocean View running back Aaron Gonya came in averaging 150 yards

per game, but finished with just 43 yards on 11 carries.

The 32 team rushing yards were also 116 below the Seahawks average

this season.

The front wall of Mesa’s double-flex also helped with a pass rush

that was a big factor in limiting Ocean View to 83 yards passing,

nearly 55 fewer than it had averaged against its three previous foes.

“Our defense line created a lot of pressure this week,” Mesa Coach

Dave Perkins said. “Cole had two sacks and Daniels collapsed the

pocket two or three times. And, Borotha was a force. They had to

double- and triple-team him.”

Perkins said Edwards also dropped coverage at times, as part of

the Mustangs’ zone-blitz scheme.

Pov has become a 5-11, 315-pound run-stopper supreme, while

Daniels (5-10, 215), has come from relative obscurity to establish

himself as a key member of the defense.

“(Daniels) has come a long way by working real hard in the

offseason,” Perkins said. “He’s not a big guy, but he excels in

creating leverage by pushing and pulling on guys.”

The D-line was also at the center of a goal-line stand in the

first quarter, in which the Mustangs turned the Seahawks away after

they had a first-and-goal at the 5-yard line.