Numbers game good

COSTA MESA — The success of the Costa Mesa High football team this year may be predicated in numbers.

Most of the numbers for the Mustangs at spring practice are positive ones. The most eye-opening stat may be that Mesa graduated just six seniors from last year.

Plus, Coach Jeremy Osso is entering his third year, and the physical number of kids at spring practice is also trending up. Osso said Costa Mesa has had over 50 players out for the practices, which began May 20 and conclude Friday.

“Any time you get improved numbers, it’s good,” Osso said. “I think we had 35 [kids out for spring practice] my first year and 42 last year. This program’s been through so many coaches in so short a time. When I took over, I was the fourth coach in four years, and you walk into an unstable program. The kids weren’t going to commit to a program if the coach wasn’t going to commit.”

Mesa no doubt now has committed players, like Juan Garces, who will be a senior in the fall. A two-way lineman, Garces was a first-team All-Orange Coast League defensive end last year. He said this year, the Mustangs will be working to defend their Orange Coast League co-championship. They also want to improve their 3-8 record of a year ago, which included a loss to Rancho Alamitos which became a forfeit win.

“This year, we’re the team to beat in our league,” Garces said. “We’re the team to beat. We’re going to make big things happen.”

The offensive and defensive lines should, returning players like Garces, fellow seniors-to-be Thomas Guzowski, Jason Schroeder and Max Cederquist. Linemen Travis Whitlock, an incoming junior, and Argenis Valencia, an incoming senior, also return. Osso said Whitlock, also a first-team all-league selection along with Guzowski, has made big improvements in the off-season.

Corbin Kay, a transfer from Newport Harbor, will also add to the unit.

“It’s a great thing,” Garces said. “When I started my sophomore year, you had some really amazing guys like London Sapolu and Rudy Hernandez, and then some blanks on the line. My junior year, it got better, but this year it’s complete. We’ve got a really good line. We have depth this year.”

On offense, the linemen will attempt to open holes for senior-to-be running back Robbie Gemayel. The two-time first-team All-Orange Coast League selection, also a standout linebacker, shared carries last year with senior-to-be Antwon Byrd and graduate Cody De La Mater, Mesa’s lone Daily Pilot Dream Team selection. Byrd missed several games with injuries last year but still led the team with 481 rushing yards.

However, Osso said he plans to move Byrd to receiver to create some speed on the outside, leaving Gemayel as the main back.

“I’m working hard at it,” Gemayel said. “I think Antwon’s a better running back than me, but it’s more fit for our team to make these changes. I’ll do anything for this team to make it better.”

Luis Gomez, who will be a junior, also returns at receiver. The battle over who throws him the ball will be between returning starter Brian Waldron, who will be a junior, and incoming senior Brett Farthing.

“Brian’s being pushed by Brett,” Osso said. “You don’t really choose starting quarterbacks in the spring, [but] Brett’s throwing the ball really well this spring.”

The Mustangs also return a strong linebacking crew including Gemayel, Nick Pederson and Nick Haynes, plus secondary members like Waldron and incoming seniors Manny Gomez and Christian Argumedo. The unit should also be boosted by John Galvin, a transfer from Mater Dei. Kevin Palmer, Mesa’s basketball coach, is the new defensive coordinator.

“We only lost two people on defense, Cody De La Mater and [league defensive MVP at strong safety] John Salyer,” Osso said.

Still, offense remains a focus for a team that was shut out four times last season and scored in double figures just twice. Osso brought in Miguel Romo, formerly at CdM, as an offensive line coach.

Aggressiveness is also a key, as Osso told his players during Thursday’s practice.

“You have to be physical,” he said. “It’s a physical game. If you can’t be physical, go play tennis.”

Yet, with so many returning linemen, Gemayel also has reason to be excited.

“Our linemen bring the most enthusiasm to our team,” Gemayel said. “That pumps everything up.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.