Daily Pilot High School Football Player of the Week

On the ground, Brian Waldron placed his black jersey next to his backpack.

He was taking the No. 2 jersey home for good. The name on the back was going with it as well, marking the end of the Waldron boys’ 10-year run being a part of Costa Mesa High football.

Four Waldron boys played for the Mustangs. Brian became the last to suit up for the program.

The senior wanted to wear the jersey again on the field.

When school at Costa Mesa emptied out a couple days before Thanksgiving, Waldron just stared at the jersey. He planned to play tonight.

The Mustangs’ season ended last week in the same way it has the previous two years. Costa Mesa lost in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs.

Waldron has now joined a new team, the boys’ basketball squad. Adjusting to the new sport has been a challenge.

Football is still on his mind.

“It’s not exactly how we wanted it to end,” Waldron said of the season. “We were hoping for a lot more.”

With Waldron around, hope turned into reality most of the time at Costa Mesa. Whether he lined up at wide receiver, quarterback, linebacker or safety, the 5-foot-9, 160-pounder gave the Mustangs a fighting chance.

Waldron played a vital role to Costa Mesa (6-5) posting its first overall winning season in seven years. The program the last three years achieved a level of success it never reached until Waldron arrived on the varsity team in 2007.

The Mustangs claimed back-to-back Orange Coast League championships in Waldron’s first two years. During one stretch, they reeled off eight straight league victories.

Waldron’s final season had to wrap up at some point. Coach Jeremy Osso wished it didn’t have to end on the road last week.

When Osso called a timeout with 75 seconds left in the fourth quarter, he pulled Waldron out of the game. The game was over, Santiago was on its way to a 24-6 victory, and Osso was about to lose Waldron.

“I gave him a hug,” Osso said after seeing Waldron put up impressive numbers, 10 catches for 135 yards, in his last game as a Mustang. “I told him how much I loved him, how much he has meant to this program, and how thankful I am for everything he has done for the program.

“He started crying and I have to admit a tear fell from my eye, too.”

In many ways, Osso said goodbye to a family member.

Osso coached all four of the Waldron boys, Tyler and Jeff as an assistant, and Cody and Brian as the head coach. The brothers graduated in different years, Tyler in 2003, Jeff in 2005, Cody in 2007, and Brian will be a part of the 2010 graduating class.

Osso said the four differ in size and ability, but one trait has remained the same. He said each Waldron worked hard, even during the trying times, the lopsided losses and the constant coaching changes before Osso took over in 2006.

“Never quit once on the staff,” Osso said of the Waldron boys. “I say [their] dad [Floyd] deserves a ton of credit for his kids’ success.”

Floyd has seen Tyler, Jeff, Cody and Brian earn accolades in football, from all-league and Newport-Mesa Dream Team honors. Out of the four, the latest Waldron enjoyed the most success at Costa Mesa.

Brian Waldron isn’t one to boast. When you’re the second youngest of 12 children, Waldron understands family comes first.

Family has been around to celebrate the two league titles Waldron has won in football and the one in baseball. He now wants one in basketball.

Coming off a football season in which he earned first-team all-league honors, Waldron isn’t quite ready for basketball. He knows he has to get in basketball shape.

First, Waldron has to get over a disappointing finish to the football season.

“I was planning on a league championship for all three [sports] this [school year], but that didn’t work out,” said Waldron, whose football team fell short of winning three straight league titles after dropping the regular-season finale at Laguna Beach, 49-34, on Nov. 13. “We had a chance to make history.”

In Osso’s eyes, Waldron and his brothers left their mark at Costa Mesa.