Mesa in a happy rut

Barry Faulkner

LAGUNA BEACH - Some routines never get old. Be it a morning cup of

coffee, an annual visit to the same vacation spot, or merely the

perpetual changing of the seasons, repetition can provide soothing

comfort against the volatility of life.

During the 1990s, the Costa Mesa High football team has found continuous

contentment in beating Pacific Coast League rival Laguna Beach.

Coach Jerry Howell’s Mustangs (6-2, 1-1 in league and ranked No. 4 in CIF

Southern Section Division IX), will try to conclude a decade of dominance

against the host Artists (3-5, 0-3), Friday at 7 p.m.

Since the last time the Artists sculpted a victory against the Mustangs

in 1989, Mesa has outscored them, 416-90, including train-wreck tallies

of 65-19 (1992), 51-0 (‘97), 58-20 (‘93), 56-14 (‘94), 47-7 (‘96), and

38-0 (‘91).

This was the year Coach Dave Holland’s squad was supposed to have enough

experienced talent to exorcise such demons and even pursue its first

playoff appearance since 1987.

But after a 3-0 start, the Artists have dropped five straight, including

three league contests, and now must find solace in one last chance to

shake up the league standings.

Despite the circumstances, and the history, Howell believes complacency

will not accompany his charges to the picturesque setting which is

2,500-seat Guyer Field.

“Laguna Beach is very much improved,” Howell said. “They’ve been playing

very well (their last two losses to Estancia and University are by a

combined eight points) and they really don’t have any weak holes. They’re

solid up and down and I’m sure our kids saw that when we reviewed the

videotape.”

Despite senior All-PCL returners at quarterback (Ryan Schissler),

tailback (Pat Chesley) and tight end (Travis Loidolt), the Artists have

not found offensive consistency in three league games.

They have produced less than 200 rushing yards and have scored only four

touchdowns against PCL defenses.

Chesley has rushed for 798 yards and seven TDs on 129 carries and has 18

receptions for another 203 yards.

Schissler, who like Loidolt missed the final two preleague games, has

completed 61 of 104 for 743 yards, with three TDs and seven

interceptions.

The Mustangs have rebounded from a league-opening loss to Estancia by

outscoring University and La Quinta, 108-21.

“If we win our last two, we get at least a share of the league

championship,” Howell said.

Such a scenario -- including a victory over Corona del Mar Nov. 12 --

combined with an Estancia loss to University Nov. 11, would give the

Mustangs the league’s No. 1 playoff spot. Should Mesa win out and

Estancia beat Uni, the Mustangs would share the league title with

Estancia and Corona del Mar.

The Mustangs are keyed, offensively by junior tailback C.J. Zuniga and

senior quarterback Dave Weir.

Zuniga has amassed 1,523 yards rushing on 205 attempts. He has scored 22

touchdowns and has 1,989 all-purpose yards. His rushing total is the

ninth-best single-season output in Newport-Mesa District annals,

fourth-best in school history. With 109 rushing yards against Laguna, he

would jump to fifth best in district history.

Weir has thrown for 641 yards and five touchdowns (43 of 81 with five

interceptions) and has rushed for 297 yards and six TDs.

The 18th meeting between the two schools (Mesa leads the series, 14-3)

also reunites Mesa defensive coordinator Tom Baldwin with his former

colleague Holland. Baldwin ran Holland’s offense during Holland’s final

two seasons as CdM’s head man (1992-93).