Mustangs win first

Bryce Alderton

It took six games, but Costa Mesa High football players could finally

walk off the field Friday night knowing they achieved the ultimate

goal: Winning.

In front of a festive homecoming crowd, the Mustangs ran away from

the Saints, literally, posting 243 total rushing yards en route to a

38-24 Golden West League victory over visiting Santa Ana at Newport

Harbor High, which snapped a seven-game losing streak dating to the

final two games of last season.

The win was a first for Mesa Coach Tom Baldwin, in his second

stint as the team’s head man.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time and this is as important a

win as I’ve ever had,” said Baldwin, a head coach for more than 46

years. “We had to get this win.”

Mesa junior tailback Tyler Legg had a lot to do with the victory,

rushing for a career-high 184 yards on 24 carries and scoring three

touchdowns, two on runs of 25 and 10 yards in the fourth quarter.

Legg’s 4-yard TD burst and one of Ryan Bagwell’s five PAT kicks

gave Mesa a 7-0 lead with 1:27 to go in the first quarter.

But Santa Ana’s Christian Ramirez returned the ensuing kickoff 95

yards for a touchdown. The Saints missed the extra point.

The Mustangs outscored the Saints, 17-0, in the second quarter to

build a 24-6 halftime cushion.

Mesa quarterback Ryan French’s 1-yard quarterback sneak and the

ensuing PAT upped the lead to 17-6.

The one-play drive was set up when Mesa’s Evan Hunter and Randy

Fea tackled the Santa Ana punter at the 1-yard line following a bad

punt snap.

The Mustangs forced the Saints (3-2, 1-1 in league) to punt on

their ensuing possession and got the ball back with 1:24 left in the half.

Mesa (1-5, 1-1) went 78 yards in four plays in one minute, capped

by French’s 10-yard TD toss to senior receiver Jeff Waldron, who

landed just inches inside the back end-zone line. Legg’s 63-yard run

keyed the drive.

Waldron finished with five catches for 50 yards while French

completed 5 of 9 passes for 62 yards.

The Saints outscored Mesa, 10-0, in the third quarter, including

Junior Takapu’s 10-yard run to cut the Mustangs’ lead to 24-16.

But the Mustangs went 78 yards in nine plays on their first drive

of the fourth quarter, capped by Legg’s 25-yard TD run on a draw

play.

Mesa’s defense held the Saints to just 27 yards of total offense

in the first half including two fumble recoveries and an interception

by defensive tackle Frank Cardona.

Waldron forced a fumble recovered by junior cornerback Tony

Krikorian that set up Mesa’s first TD drive.

Mesa starting defensive tackle Erick Moreno had to be helped off

the field in the fourth quarter. He couldn’t put any weight on his

right leg.

“The trainer told me it could be a broken tibia, but we’ll have to

wait for the X-rays,” Baldwin said.

Nonetheless, it was time to savor victory.

“When you win, you’re happy,” Baldwin said. “It doesn’t matter who

you play.”