Crunching the final numbers

Game plans prepared by opposing defensive coordinators were not

the only paperwork significantly altered by a trio of Newport-Mesa

running backs who recently capped prodigious prep careers.

The Newport-Mesa rushing record book was notably shuffled by the

efforts of Costa Mesa High’s Keola Asuega, Newport Harbor’s Dartangan

Johnson and Corona del Mar’s Mark Cianclulli.

Asuega, the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player, did the

most damage. With 2,023 yards and 21 touchdowns to lead the Mustangs

to the Golden West League title, Asuega upped his three-year varsity

total to 3,932 yards and 49 TDs. The latter breaks the Newport-Mesa

record of 45 set by former Newport Harbor standout Steve Brazas in

1982-83.

Asuega’s career yardage total ranks No. 2 in Newport-Mesa annals,

topped only by former Mustangs Binh Tran (4,333 yards from 1991-93).

Asuega, who missed four games during his career due to hamstring

and foot problems, including one this year, finished with 247 fewer

carries than Tran’s 803.

Asuega’s rushing yards this fall are sixth-best on the

Newport-Mesa single-season list. Charles Chatman, yet another

Mustang, holds the single-season record with 2,512 in 1994. Asuega

also posted 20 games of at least 100 yards.

Johnson, who amassed 1,870 yards as a junior, added 1,392 to that

total this year. His career output of 3,397 yards ranks No. 3 on the

Newport-Mesa list, just ahead of James Dawkins (3,209 yards at

Estancia from 1995-97), J.R. Walz (3,189 yards at CdM from 1991-93)

and Ray Ohrel (3,095 yards at both Mesa and Newport Harbor from

1995-96).

Johnson, with nine straight 100-plus performances to finish the

season, had 18 games with at least triple digits in his career, a

school record. Johnson’s 560 carries were just four more than Asuega.

Cianciulli’s 1,252 yards this season, 38 yards shy of his 2001

total, push his career rushing total to 2,601 (including his sophomore season), which ranks 11th on the Newport-Mesa career list.

Cianciulli finished with 28 rushing TDs, one shy of Walz’s career

record, but Cianciulli’s 29 overall touchdowns tie him with Walz for

most in Sea King history.

Among the top 15 career rushers in Newport-Mesa history, only

Brazas and former Estancia standout Josh Wojtkiewicz (2,501 yards

from 1987-89, good for No. 13 on the list) played before the 1990s.

*

On the football recruiting front, Asuega is among those generating

interest from Division I-A schools. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, who

some believe could flourish as a safety or even a linebacker at the

next level, has scheduled official visits to Idaho, Wyoming and Idaho

State, Costa Mesa Coach Dave Perkins said.

Newport Harbor offensive lineman A.J. Slater, a 6-5, 270-pound

two-year starter who shifted from guard last year to tackle as a

senior, is receiving interest from schools including Colorado State

and New Mexico State.

Sailors quarterback Michael McDonald, like Slater a first-team

All-Sea View League performer, has had discussions with coaches at UC

Davis.