Battle for the Bell rings

Rick Devereux

The 38th Battle for the Bell between the Costa Mesa High and Estancia

football teams Friday night at 7 at Orange Coast College has playoff

implications for one of the teams involved.

Costa Mesa (2-7, 2-3 in the Golden West League) can claim a

three-way tie for third place in league if three things happen.

First, the Mustangs need to beat Estancia.

Second, Saddleback needs to lose to league-leading Westminster,

which is ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division VII.

Third, Santa Ana needs to beat Ocean View.

If Santa Ana loses to Ocean View, Saddleback would win the

tie-breaker with Costa Mesa.

If Saddleback upsets Westminster, Saddleback is the automatic

third place team.

The Mustangs need a three-way tie in order to force a coin flip to

decide who will be the third-place representative in the Division VII

playoffs.

“We have a slim chance of getting in, but I guess that’s better

than no chance at all,” Coach Tom Baldwin said.

But in order for that slim chance to remain, Costa Mesa needs to

win the Battle for the Bell for the fourth time in a row and the

eighth time in 11 years.

“I think we’re two evenly matched teams,” Baldwin said. “Beating

Estancia is by no means a given. They have a very good football

team.”

Both teams suffered their worst losses of the season at the hands

of Westminster. The Lions prevailed, 42-7, in each game.

Costa Mesa scored a season-high 38 points against Santa Ana while

Estancia’s most prolific output -- 34 points -- came against Garden

Grove. Both the Eagles and Mustangs have been outscored in the league

by an average of 10 points per game.

“Evenly matched games are usually decided by mistakes,” Baldwin

said. “I think if we can cut down on our mistakes and turnovers we

can win.”

The Mustangs have committed 10 turnovers and 35 penalties for 275

yards in the last three games. During that span, Mesa has scored 57

points, but the opponents have scored 92.

“We really have to protect the ball in order to be successful,”

Baldwin said.

Bad fortune for Estancia could mean good fortune for the Mustangs.

Tailbacks Bryce McKendry and Daniel Cheesboro are both nursing

injuries. Cheesboro sustained a sprain to his left knee in the second

quarter of last week’s 26-12 loss to Santa Ana. He is not expected to

play against Costa Mesa. McKendry has a deep contusion on his left

thigh and is questionable for the Mesa game.

McKendry and Cheesboro have combined for 1,034 rushing yards and

11 touchdowns on 201 carries. The rest of the team has 81 rushing

yards and two touchdowns on 112 carries.

Fullback Dave Moreno was moved to tailback in the second half

against the Saints last week and gained 38 of his 40 yards at

tailback. Moreno is likely to be the starting tailback against the

Mustangs.

“McKendry has such a deep bruise in his leg,” Coach Craig Fertig

said. “He may be ale to play but he may not. We’re going to have to

wait and see.”

The loss of two starting tailbacks has made the Eagles adjust

their game plan.

“We need to be able to pass the ball at some point,” Fertig said.

“If we can’t, we’re in big trouble.”

Running or passing will not be easy against the Mesa defense. Led

by linebackers Jeff Waldron, Jasbir Seewat, Randy Fea and Duaine

Wase, the Mustangs are known for blitzing players and putting

pressure on offenses.

When the Eagles are on defense, Fertig is aware of which Costa

Mesa player to focus on.

“[Waldron] is a stud,” he said. “We’re going to put our stud [Geo

Macias] on him.”

This will be the final game for Macias. The

kicker/receiver/punter/cornerback has been a jack of all trades in

his high school career.

Also playing in his final game will be lineman Ian Morton and

receiver/linebacker Ryan Sanford.

“Those three guys are what we’re all about,” Fertig said. “They

have fun and they truly enjoy playing the game of football.”