Mustangs laying low

The Costa Mesa High football team lost its Golden West League opener

last week, but the Mustangs may have gained their offensive identity.

Coach Jay Johnson’s squad (0-5, 0-1 in league) will try to assert

its newfound offensive confidence Friday against visiting

Westminster, at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College.

Mesa, decimated by early injuries, had struggled mightily for the

first 4 1/2 games of the season, scoring just three offensive

touchdowns in its first 18 quarters.

But with senior quarterback Ryan French back at quarterback and

senior Ivan Ruiz at running back after halftime against Estancia

Friday, Mesa scored twice to come within 20-14 and was driving as

time ran out.

French, who separated his right throwing shoulder in the opener,

had missed three games before coming on in relief against Estancia.

He threw for 130 yards and one touchdown and is now 20 of 48 for 170

yards for the season.

Ruiz, out since injuring his knee in preseason practice, amassed

122 yards and one TD on 15 carries to become the Mustangs’ leading

rusher this season.

“With the style of offense we run [the spread], we need a back

like Ivan, who has enough speed to get through the cracks,” Johnson

said. “And you could really see Ryan’s confidence grow as he played

more [against Estancia].”

Despite the good feelings the near-comeback against Estancia might

have generated, the Mustangs face a severe challenge in the Lions

(3-2, 1-0), ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division VII.

Westminster, the defending league champion, has won seven straight

league games and 12 of its last 13 against Golden West competition.

The Lions opened league with a 21-0 win over Saddleback Friday.

“Their offensive and defensive lines are really strong and tough,”

Johnson said of the Lions, who he hopes could be looking past his

squad, as they look toward their Oct. 14 showdown with Orange, a game

many believe could decide the league crown.

“We’re at the point where people don’t need to give us too much

respect,” Johnson said. “But we’ll embrace that role and play ‘Woe is

me,’ and ‘We’re not a team people should take seriously.’ And,

hopefully, [the Lions] won’t take us seriously.”

The Lions are led, offensively, by 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior Mitchell Nhep. He has 581 yards and eight touchdowns on 63 rushing

attempts and also leads the team in receptions (11) and receiving yards (174).

Westminster junior quarterback Ben Chapple has completed 32 of 67

for 458 yards and two TDs.

COSTA MESA STARTERS

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OFFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

10 Ryan French 6-2 175 Sr. QB

2 Ivan Ruiz 5-6 155 Sr. 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

27 Tony Krikorian 5-9 150 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 63 Rudy Hernandez 5-10 240 Jr. RT *--*

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DEFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

61 R. Soomalelogi 5-11 240 Sr. DE 67 Robert De La Cruz 5-10 255 Sr. DT 63 Rudy Hernandez 5-10 240 Jr. DT 84 Giovanni Porcayo 5-10 213 Sr. DE 33 Richard Huk 5-7 185 Sr. LB

40 Cody De La Mater 5-9 192 So 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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