Costa Mesa muscles up on Breakers

Steve Virgen

Domination.

That was the name of the game for Costa Mesa High’s football team,

which scored 41 first-half points and coasted to a 41-13 nonleague

victory over host Laguna Beach Friday night.

The Mustangs (2-1), ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division

VII, absolutely controlled the lines of scrimmage and unleashed a

vaunted rushing attack that resulted in 271 yards and four touchdowns. That running game also helped deal Laguna Beach (3-1) its

first loss of the season.

Costa Mesa had just five rushes that went for double-digit yards

this season, but the Mustangs churned out nine double-digit gains

against the Breakers. The Mustangs had averaged only 2.5 yards per

carry, and finished with a 6.1 yards-per-carry average Friday night.

“Our lines dominate people,” Mesa Coach Dave Perkins said. “Our

lines come off the ball and knock people down. It’s a tribute to

[offensive line coach Jesse] Sapolu and the off-season weight

program.”

Perkins also credited Mesa’s defense, which was in charge most of

the night and was responsible for the Mustangs’ turning point, early

in the first quarter. Costa Mesa received the opening kickoff, but

fumbled. The Breakers recovered and started at the Mustang 21-yard

line.

However, Mesa’s defense sent Laguna four and out and swung the

momentum back to the Mustangs’ sideline. Senior defensive end Marc

Daniels started Costa Mesa’s defensive charge with an 8-yard sack on

quarterback Alex Wilson, who then threw three straight incomplete

passes.

Wilson entered the game among the Southern Section leaders in

passing yardage (698) and touchdowns (nine). He averaged 232.7 yards

per game and had not thrown an interception ... that is until he met

the Mustangs.

Wilson threw for 154 yards, one fourth-quarter touchdown and three

interceptions that came in the first half.

“Last year they beat us 14-7 and that was in the back of our kids’

minds,” Perkins said. “They were 3-0. They [had] the No. 1

quarterback in [the Southern Section] and the No. 2 receiver, and we

had to come out and prove that we could take care of those guys and I

think we did that.”

After the Mustangs sent Laguna four and out on its first

possession, Mesa had its reawakening, so to speak, with its running

game. Omar Ruiz carried the ball six times for 50 yards, helping the

Mustangs’ nine-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Junior Epenesa’s

6-yard touchdown. Mesa ran the ball eight out of the nine plays on

the drive.

Ruiz gained 133 yards and scored one touchdown on 19 carries,

while Epenesa contributed 45 yards and two scores on five carries.

Most of their yards came in the first half, when the Mustangs

dominated. Their running game produced 193 yards and four touchdowns

before halftime, and junior quarterback Bruce Wilkinson threw for 103

yards and one touchdown, also in the first half.

Wilkinson threw deep to sophomore Chris Ricci, who completed the

catch-and-run play that went for a 62-yard touchdown.

The Mustangs defense came up with three interceptions, two fumble

recoveries, three sacks and five tackles for losses, all in the first

half. That defense also held Laguna Beach to 77 yards in the first

half, and 42 of those came on one play.

Al Rodgriguez, Jeff Waldron and Gary Gonzalez had one interception

each. Rodriguez took back his interception 39 yards for a touchdown

with 4:35 left before halftime, and after Ryan Bagwell’s PAT kick,

the Mustangs went up, 28-0.

“We ironed out a lot of problems,” Perkins said. “Our rhythm was

really good. We showed good balance. We’re in the right direction and

we took a big step toward getting prepared to play Saddleback.”

The Mustangs, the defending Golden West League champions, open

league play Friday at 7 p.m. against Saddleback, at Orange Coast

College.