Prep football: Dirty work

Barry Faulkner

LAGUNA BEACH - Though the Costa Mesa High football team owns an

11-game winning streak against Laguna Beach, Mustangs Coach Dave Perkins

expects his players to eat dirt during Friday’s 7 p.m. Pacific Coast

League game at the Artists’ field.

And while former longtime Corona del Mar High coach Dave Holland has

the most successful team in his six-season tenure at Laguna Beach, it is

the sparse amount of grass on the Artists’ well-used layout that is among

Perkins’ concerns.

“It’s never any fun going to Laguna Beach, because there is never any

grass on the field,” Perkins said. “I think they should consider

synthetic turf, because (the high school field) seems to be the only one

anyone uses down there. Last year (at Estancia), our freshman played

there in the afternoon. Then, before we took the field for warmups, there

were Pop Warner teams practicing on it.”

Beating the Artists (5-1, 0-1 in league) has been common practice for

the Mustangs (4-2, 0-1), ever since Laguna Beach earned a 23-13 win in

1989. Since then, Mesa has padded its 15-5 lead in the series, winning by

an average margin of 43-10 during the 11-year run.

But Laguna Beach has come close the last two seasons, losing by six

and three points, in 1999 and ‘00, respectively. And this year’s battle

does not have a clear-cut favorite.

“Their running back is really scary,” Perkins said of 5-foot-9,

160-pound Donelle Darling, whose 15 touchdowns have helped make him the

second-leading scorer in Orange County this season. “And, defensively,

they’re pretty good. They get after the ball well and their linebackers

do a good job of filling.”

Laguna Beach’s defense has surrendered just 61 points this year, an

average of 10.2 per game, which ranks fourth in the county.

Holland, known for his defensive units in 20 seasons at CdM, spanning

two different terms from 1967 through ‘93, has utilized an aggressive

defensive unit to post nearly as many wins this fall as he had in five

previous campaigns with the Artists (seven).

Darling has rushed for 832 yards on 126 carries and nine of his TD

runs have covered 22 yards or more, including scoring scampers of 82, 42,

37 and 30. He ran for five TDs in a 35-14 nonleague triumph over Santa

Ana Valley, arguably the Artists’ toughest test, before last week’s 19-7

PCL-opening setback against University.

Senior quarterback Todd Merz has thrown for 520 yards and two TDs, but

has completed only 33 of 73 (45%) with four interceptions.

Merz is also dangerous with his leg. His four field goals include

boots of 46 and 37 yards.

Another noteworthy performer for Laguna is senior Jason Boyd, whose

physical play from his safety position has earned him respect as one of

the best defensive players in the league. He was first-team All-PCL last

fall and also chips in offensively at fullback.

Costa Mesa, coming off a 31-6 loss to unbeaten Northwood, the early

PCL title favorite, will test the Laguna defense with plenty of talented

ball carriers.

Junior fullback Keola Asuega has rushed for 603 yards and nine TDs on

77 carries, while senior wingback Nick Cabico has 465 rushing yards and

four of his six TDs on 57 attempts.

Sophomore Omar Ruiz, who has four TDs and 145 yards on 21 carries the

past four games, earns his first start at tailback this week.

The aforementioned stable, as well as senior Freddy Rodriguez (187

yards and four TDs) has helped the Mustangs produce 77% of their 2,222

offensive yards on the ground.

Senior quarterback A.J. Perkins has thrown for 479 yards and seven

TDs, completing 37 of 89 with just one interception. He may be asked to

help balance out the attack if Laguna Beach approaches the success

Northwood had stopping the run last week (154 yards on the ground).

Senior tight end John Garcia leads the receiving corps with 10

receptions for 166 yards and two TDs.

Junior Nathan Hunter, who missed the last four games with a broken

ankle after catching seven passes, is schedule to return, though he won’t

start, Perkins said.

As if the Mustangs’ recent dominance weren’t enough to bolster their

confidence, this year’s roster includes six players who helped

Perkins-coached Estancia claim a 62-23 blowout at Laguna Beach last

season.