Bravehearts

Barry Faulkner

With a group that averages 244 pounds, it’s no surprise Costa Mesa

High offensive linemen like pancakes. This passion, however, has less

to do with the breakfast menu than the popular moniker used to

describe a block that knocks a defender flat on his back, like a

flapjack.

“These kids take a lot of pride in knocking people down,” said

Mustangs Coach Dave Perkins, who rewards such activity with helmet

decals that resemble hatchets.

“They really want those hatchets and they go crazy sometimes when

we’re reviewing film of our games. They make sure to point out when

their guy gets knocked on his back, so they can get a hatchet. I

handed out six of them this week.”

Who said self-satisfaction is an offensive lineman’s only reward?

The Mesa blocking brigade that helped pave the way for a crucial

27-21 Golden West League victory over Orange Friday night at Orange

Coast College, included starting tackles James Paulsen and Rodrigo

Gutierrez, starting guards David Vernotico and Brett Via and center

Luke Sapolu. Paul Martin, in his first game back after missing three

contests with a minor knee injury, played extensively at guard,

tackle and tight end, on his way to being selected offensive player

of the week by the team’s coaches.

“We just made a commitment to run inside the tackles and run right

at them,” Perkins said of the consistently effective ground attack

that produced 318 yards on 61 carries, an average of 5.2 yards per

rush.

The 61 running plays were the most in 39 games for the

traditionally ground-oriented program, dating back to the 1998

regular-season finale.

Costa Mesa earned 14 of its 16 first downs on the ground and had

two 55-yard scoring drives, which consumed 11 and 14 plays.

Martin, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound returning starter, used his

exceptional mobility for a player his size to boost a group that had

also been covering for the absence of senior three-year starting

guard Andrew Carich, who missed his fourth straight game with a knee

injury.

Carich, an All-Pacific Coast League and All-Newport-Mesa District

performer as a junior, is expected back this week, when the Mustangs

battle crosstown rival Estancia Friday at 7:30 at Newport Harbor

High.

Perkins, however, said the return of Martin and Carich to the

starting lineup will not prevent those who filled in from gaining

playing time as the Mustangs (4-2, 2-0 in league) continue their

“run” toward a potential league crown.

Paulsen, a 6-0, 255-pound senior left tackle, and David Vernotico,

a 5-8, 240-pound junior left guard, have helped keep the Green

Machine rolling with their blocking exploits the last several weeks

and will continue to contribute, Perkins said.

Junior center Luke Sapolu (5-11, 220), the son of former San

Francisco 49ers All-Pro offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu, has improved

each week, according to Perkins.

Junior Brett Via (6-0, 210), who also contributes at inside

linebacker, starts at right guard after starting at center most of

his sophomore season.

Rodrigo Gutierrez, a 6-1, 260-pound sophomore whose crushing

kick-out block cleared the way for Keola Asuega’s 7-yard touchdown

run that tied the game at 14 late in the first half, represents a

solid future as the starting right tackle.

Junior tight end Gary Gonzalez has also contributed blocking

expertise.

“These guys have really come together after kind of being orphaned

at the start of the year,” Perkins said. “(Veteran line coach) Al

Dies was in the hospital (after sustaining injuries in a fall off a

ladder) and Coach (Donny) Garcia wasn’t able to coach, so I had to

take the group over. They’ve really worked hard to improve and

mature.”

Dies returned to his coaching duties three weeks ago, which,

Perkins points out, coincides with the team’s three-game winning

streak.

“Al has had a lot to do with these guys’ success,” Perkins said.