Costa Mesa Football Preview vs. Saddleback

Costa Mesa (5-3, 1-2) vs. Saddleback (4-4, 1-2)

When/where: Thursday, 7 p.m. at Santa Ana Valley High

Key Mustangs: Sr. WR/LB/K Cameron Curet; Sr. LB Mason Mataafa; Sr. RB Jonathan Brucales; Sr. WR/CB Josh Snipes.

Key Roadrunners: Sr. RB/S Pedro Leon; Sr. QB Osvaldo Zuno; Soph. WR/S Jacob Roa.

Breakdown: The second-to-last Orange Coast League game is crucial for both Costa Mesa and Saddleback, who come in tied for fourth in league with 1-2 records ... Only the top three teams in league are guaranteed CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoff berths, and the Mustangs most likely need to win Thursday to keep their playoff hopes alive, although there are two at-large berths in the Southern Division ... Costa Mesa has lost two straight games in league, including last week’s 27-6 loss to Godinez ... Costa Mesa lost quarterback Ben Swanson (broken collarbone) in the game, as well as Josh Snipes (neck) ... Snipes, however, has been practicing this week for the Mustangs and could play Thursday.... Saddleback is coming off a 35-25 loss to first-place Calvary Chapel ... The Mustangs lost to Saddleback in overtime, 21-14, last season.

— Matt Szabo