Mesa has playoff hopes still alive against Calvary

It can be tough to find motivation after a shutout loss.

And, even tougher without a head coach. Costa Mesa High will have Bill Lux and Nick Romo coaching the team tonight, when the Mustangs face Calvary Chapel tonight at 7 at Newport Harbor High, Coach Jeremy Osso said. He declined to comment further.

Even with the adversity, the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs are still in reach, the Costa Mesa High football team still has plenty to play for.

Osso’s squad will have to recover quickly from a 17-0 Battle for the Bell loss against Estancia, because the Mustangs still control their own playoff destiny.

“You win the next two, you’re in the playoffs,” Osso said Tuesday. “It’s as simple as that. I think our guys are excited.”

That short two-game mission starts tonight at Newport Harbor High, where Costa Mesa (2-6, 0-1 in league) will play Calvary Chapel (2-6, 0-1) at 7.

The records of the two teams aren’t their only identical trait. The Eagles, coached by Lyle Lansdell, also have hopes of winning their final two Orange Coast League games and making the playoffs.

Lansdell, a former Corona del Mar offensive coordinator, runs a creative offense at Calvary Chapel, which is coming off a league-opening 28-7 loss to Laguna Beach. Osso said that much of the offense is designed to get the ball in the hands of senior standout Cameron Baird, a receiver.

“Lansdell, he’s inventive and creative,” Osso said. “They run a ton of different formations. He just doesn’t have the horses there. He doesn’t have the 270-pound linemen, or even the 245-pound linemen. But he’s got them playing good football. Their record doesn’t indicate how good they are. “

The Costa Mesa defense has been improved, giving up 17 or fewer points in four of the last five games. But offensively, the Mustangs have continued to struggle at times.

Osso highlighted a fourth-and-one situation that Costa Mesa failed to convert against Estancia.

“All week, we’d been working on fourth-and-ones, and then we couldn’t do it during the game,” he said. “Those little things are separating us from being, say, 4-4. They’re going to lead us over the top or lead us to defeat.”

The Mustangs have also shuffled their lineup following a season-ending calf injury to senior Josh Lowe during the Estancia game.

Lowe, who was a two-way starter at tight end and safety, will be replaced by sophomore Jeff Dye on offense and senior Asa Hawks on defense.

Quarterback Cody Waldron will backup Hawks at safety, Osso said.

“You can’t replace Josh, you just have to make adjustments to fill the voids,” Osso said. “Some other guys are going to have to step up, because he was a big part of our offense and defense.”

D.J. Lepper, who has now rushed for at least 90 yards in his last three games, remains solid at running back. For the year, the senior has 157 carries for 640 yards and three touchdowns.

He and the Mustangs offense will face a Calvary defense that plays a three-three formation.