Costa Mesa Football Preview

Costa Mesa (7-1, 3-0 in league) vs. Laguna Beach (7-1, 2-1)

When/where: Friday night, 7 at Laguna Beach High

Key Mustangs: Sr. RB Mario Smith (1,484 yards and 20 TDs on 125 carries); Sr. WR-CB Jordan Walden (29 catches for 517 yards and seven TDs); So. LB-RB Oronde Crenshaw

Key Breakers: Jr. RB Drake Martinez (1,103 yards and 17 TDs on 94 carries); Jr. QB Larry Stewart (642 yards, eight TDs and one INT on 35-of-74 passing); Jr. RB-WR-LB Robert Clemons (535 yards and six TDs on 36 carries, eight catches for 169 yards)

Breakdown: Costa Mesa, ranked No. 9 in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division poll, is off to its best start since 1997, when the Mustangs began 8-0 … Sixth-ranked Laguna Beach is in a must-win situation if it plans to contend for an Orange Coast League title with the Mustangs … Costa Mesa and Estancia are tied atop the league standings and the cross-town rivals meet next week in the regular-season finale at Jim Scott Stadium … The last time Costa Mesa went undefeated in league play was three years ago … The Breakers have defeated Costa Mesa in each of the past two years … Expect a high-scoring affair as Costa Mesa is averaging 47 points per game and Laguna Beach 46.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza