Mesa blocks out losing thoughts

Now this, the Costa Mesa High football team could get used to.

After an 8-6 Orange Coast League-opening win at Laguna Beach Monday night, Mustangs Coach Jeremy Osso tried to analyze the mental baggage that an 0-7 start, following consecutive seasons of 3-7, 2-8 and 3-7, can heap on the backs of players, coaches and supporters.

“When you’re used to losing, it becomes second nature,” Osso said. “I told our kids at halftime that this was about understanding how to win.”

The Mustangs left little to chance Monday, combining timely offense, persistent defense and opportunistic special teams to halt an eight-game losing streak that started with a 22-7 season-ending loss to Laguna Beach last season.

A pair of blocked punts led to all eight points for the visitors (1-7), who stopped a two-point conversion run after Laguna Beach (1-7) scored with 2:44 left to protect their lead.

After junior Jason Schroeder recovered the Breakers’ ensuing onside kickoff, Mesa’s offense produced two first downs to run off the remaining time, sparking a hearty celebration.

Senior Tamas Gyorfi partially blocked a punt late in the first half to spark the Mustangs’ first score. Gyorfi steamed up the middle and got both hands on Charley Bowman’s punt, which trickled 19 yards to the Laguna 44, where Mesa took over.

A pair of 20-yard Brian Waldron passes, the first to Luis Gomez and the second a highlight-reel catch on a sideline fade by John Salyer at the Laguna Beach two-yard line, set up junior tailback Antwon Byrd’s two-yard touchdown run between right tackle, sophomore Brian Simrak, and right guard, junior Juan Garces, with 34 seconds left before halftime.

The conversion kick was wide left, but Costa Mesa took some confidence and conviction into the halftime locker room.

“We’ve been in that situation before [tied with Bolsa Grande, 6-6, tied with Katella, 6-6 at halftime earlier this season],” Salyer said. “We just didn’t want to let [being outscored in the second half] happen again.”

The Mustangs appeared pumped up from the outset of the third quarter. After stuffing the Breakers offense on the first three plays of the second half, senior outside linebacker Cody De La Mater broke free up the middle and blocked Bowman’s punt backward into the end zone.

“We stole that punt block from Virginia Tech,” Osso said.

Laguna Beach’s Michael John recovered the ball in the end zone, but De La Mater quickly threw him down for a safety, upping the lead to 8-0 with 9:45 left in the third quarter.

The Breakers remained in the game by recovering an errant lateral pass at their own 16 to halt Mesa’ subsequent possession and the two teams traded punts and one turnover, a fumble forced by Salyer and recovered by Gomez, before the hosts got their offense going.

Laguna Beach drove 75 yards on 11 plays, at one point getting a gift first down when a hard-count cadence induced an encroachment penalty on fourth-and-two at the Costa Mesa 18, to get on the scoreboard.

Bowman, the reigning league offensive MVP who ran for 48 yards and threw for 55 more, capped the drive with a seven-yard scramble with 2:44 left.

Bowman triggered the option on the two-point try, pitching to Zach Smith, who was immediately tackled by senior defensive end Eddie Rodriguez. The ball came loose and Gomez recovered, all but forcing Laguna to try the ill-fated onside kickoff.

Waldron completed five of 10 passes for 116 yards, including a dart to a slanting Gomez for 23 yards on third-and-15 with about two minutes left.

Byrd, returning after a bout with leg injuries, rushed 12 times for 71 yards and raced 50 yards after catching a short pass in the first quarter.

“We were sick and tired of being sick and tired,” De La Mater said.

The winner of Friday’s Battle for the Bell with Estancia will earn at least a share of the league title with another game remaining.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].

SECOND QUARTER

CM – Byrd 2 run (kick failed), 0:34.

THIRD QUARTER

CM – Safety: De La Mater tackles ballcarrier in end zone after he recovered blocked punt, 9:45.

FOURTH QUARTER

LB – Bowman 7 run (run failed), 2:44.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CM – Byrd, 12-71, 1 TD; De La Mater, 10-35; Salyer, 5-19; Gemayel, 5-5; Waldron, 2-minus 8; Argumedo, 1-minus 1; Team, 2-minus 2.

LB – Smith, 19-74; Bowman, 12-48, 1 TD; John, 6-18; Colladay, 1-10.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CM – Waldron, 5-10-0, 116.

LB – Bowman, 7-13-0, 55.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

CM – L. Gomez, 2-43; Byrd, 1-50; Salyer, 1-20; De La Mater, 1-3.

LB – Colladay, 5-46; Panduro, 1-10.