Bravehearts

Barry Faulkner

The Costa Mesa High football team did a little flexing during the

offseason, but it had nothing to do with showing off muscles.

Instead, Coach Dave Perkins and Bob Brockie, the Mustangs defensive

coordinator, conspired to reprise the double-flex defensive scheme

they went away from in the 2001 season.

The decision was made primarily to showcase a collection of

linebackers that has more than justified the coaches’ faith in them.

With Nate Hunter and Daniel Cooper outside, Junior Epenesa in the

middle, as well as Chris Reed and Brett Via at the inside linebacker

spots, the unit has been quintessential to the team’s run to the

Golden West League championship, an 8-2 record and a seven-game

winning streak heading into Friday’s CIF Southern Section Division

VII first-round clash with Gabrielino at Orange Coast College.

“It’s a very good group,” Perkins said of his agile and aggressive

standouts, who helped hold Saddleback to minus-18 yards rushing in

Thursday’s 35-0 romp.

In the final four games of the regular season, Mesa yielded just

68 rushing yards for an average of 17 per game. Including passing

yards, the Mesa defense has given up just 93 yards per game over the

aforementioned four-game stretch, wins over Estancia, Westminster,

Santa Ana and Saddleback.

“As a group, they communicate well, which is a tribute to Brockie,

who implemented this defense,” Perkins said. “I went to Bob last

spring and told him I wanted to return to the flex, but I wanted to

blitz a lot more out of it. He did his homework and came up with our

current system, which amounts to taking the flex just a little bit

farther.”

Perkins said an “exchange system” allows for constant shuffling of

gap responsibility between linebackers and the three down linemen and

players have become adept at utilizing this flexibility to keep

opposing blockers off guard.

The linebackers average just less than 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, so

quickness and instinct are their leading assets.

“Nate reads real well and his forte is blitzing off the corner,”

Perkins said of the 6-0, 170-pound receiver, who also starts at

receiver and kicks. “He’s also very physical.”

The 6-2, 185-pound Cooper, a junior, has made a surprising impact

in his first season as a varsity starter.

“When I told our coaches he was going to start this year, they

kind of looked at me funny,” Perkins said. “He’s done a very good

job. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time,

because he’s so good at reading. He’s also very strong for as light

as he is and his height makes him tough to throw over when he

blitzes.”

Epenesa, a 6-3, 215-pound junior, has blossomed after a sophomore

season plagued by injury.

“He has been a real force and he is getting better at recognizing

things,” Perkins said. “And he fills like a ton of bricks.”

Reed, a 5-9, 205-pound senior, is the most cerebral of the group

and his devotion to studying opponents on film has helped him

consistently get to the ball ahead of schedule.

Via, a 6-0, 210-pound junior, is another two-way starter. He plays

guard on offense, but torments guards, as well as ball carriers, when

carrying out his defensive duties.

“He has improved every week and has really done a solid job on the

run,” Perkins said. “And he’s getting better at blitzing.”