High School Football Preview: Costa Mesa vs. Orange

Costa Mesa vs. Orange

When/where: Friday, 7 p.m. at El Modena High

Key Mustangs: Sr. OT/LB Roman Ayala; Jr. QB Ben Swanson; Sr. RB/S Cody Merrifield

Key Panthers: Sr. RB/CB Brandon Warren; Sr. OL/DL Noah Tiliaia; Sr. RB/SS Nathan Howard

Breakdown: Costa Mesa and Orange each begin the season with the Week Zero game ... Costa Mesa is tied for 10th in the CIF Southern Section Division 13 preseason poll ... The Mustangs return six starters on offense and five on defense for second-year coach Glen Fisher ... Costa Mesa broke a 13-year streak of losing season openers last year with a 15-10 victory over Northwood at Irvine High ... The Mustangs went on to finish 5-5, 1-4 in the Orange Coast League and miss the postseason ... Orange was 4-6, 1-4 in the Golden West League in 2015 and also missed the postseason ... This is the first time that Costa Mesa has played Orange since 2005, when both teams were in the Golden West League. The Panthers lead the all-time series, 10-5 ... Costa Mesa has its first home game at its new on-campus football stadium against Santiago on Sept. 2.

— Matt Szabo

— Matt Szabo