Mustangs are banged up

The Costa Mesa High football team’s preleague season seems to have

become a survivor challenge.

The Mustangs (0-2) visit Huntington Beach tonight at 7 for a

nonleague clash from which they hope to emerge without further

injuries.

“We want to have a good game and stay out of the emergency ward,”

said first-year Mustangs Coach Jay Johnson, who has lost two

All-Golden West League returners in the first two losses this season.

Senior tailback Tyler Legg, a first-team all-league performer as a

junior, saw his season halted by a dislocated ankle in Friday’s 37-7

loss to Corona del Mar.

The Mustangs played the Sea Kings without senior quarterback Ryan

French, who injured his shoulder in the season-opening 30-0 loss to

Brea Olinda.

French’s status is uncertain for this week. If he can’t go,

Johnson will try to make some adjustments to the no-huddle spread.

Johnson, however, said any major change in the offense would be

counterproductive.

“We may be a little different in terms of our run-pass ratio,”

said Johnson, whose team has averaged 110.5 yards the first two

contests, including just 2 rushing yards against CdM. “But just

pulling the rug out from under the kids and throwing away this system

to bring in a new one would put us back even farther.”

Three Mesa quarterbacks have combined to complete just 10 of 42

passes for 118 yards, with four interceptions and one touchdown.

Sophomore Cody De La Mater stepped in for Legg against CdM and

compiled 23 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Johnson said senior Richard Huk also may have earned some time in

the backfield after averaging 3 yards on three carries Friday.

Costa Mesa’s only touchdown this season was an 83-yard kickoff

return by Mitch Caldwell against CdM.

Johnson acknowledges Huntington Beach (0-1) is a formidable foe.

The Oilers were defeated by Los Amigos, 35-28, in their opener

Friday, after leading the Lobos, 21-14, at halftime.

“I know they have speed and I know they’re a [CIF Southern

Section] Division I school,” Johnson said.

Huntington Beach, coached by Mike Groscost, was 4-5-1 last season

and has had six straight losing campaigns in the rugged Sunset

League.

Senior Huey Tran rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns to pace

the Oilers in their opener.

Senior quarterback Curtis Crandall connected with senior receiver

Eric Jaso for six of his seven pass completions against Los Amigos.

COSTA MESA STARTERS

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OFFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

27 Tony Krikorian 5-9 150 Sr. QB

40 Cody De La Mater 5-9 192 So. TB

7 Cody Waldron 6-1 175 Jr. WR 28 Josh Lowe 6-1 170 Jr. WR 3 Kirkland Huynh 5-7 151 Jr. SR

30 Jon Morris 5-8 145 Sr. SR

64 Ryan Segovia 6-0 270 Sr. LT

55 London Sapolu 6-1 225 Jr. LG 61 R. Soomalelogi 5-11 240 Sr. C

67 Robert De La Cruz 5-10 255 Sr. RG 74 Juan Diaz 6-1 300 Sr. RT *--*

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DEFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

61 R. Soomalelogi 5-11 240 Sr. DE 74 Juan Diaz 6-1 300 Sr. DT 63 Rudy Hernandez 5-10 240 Jr. DT 84 Giovanni Porcayo 5-10 213 Sr. DE 40 Cody De La Mater 5-9 192 So. LB

67 Robert De La Cruz 5-10 255 Sr. LB 55 London Sapolu 6-1 225 Jr. LB 24 Mitch Caldwell 6-1 175 Sr. CB 27 Tony Krikorian 5-9 150 Sr. CB

7 Cody Waldron 6-1 175 Jr. SS 30 Jon Morris 5-8 145 Sr. FS

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