Prep football: Different strokes

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - When one views the recent football history between

Costa Mesa High and the Artists of Laguna Beach, the image has clearly

been black and white.

Costa Mesa wins, usually wins big -- by an average margin of 45-12

during the current 10-game winning streak -- and typically leaves Laguna

with a colorful assortment of bruises.

But the contrast between the two Pacific Coast League programs, who

square off tonight at 7 at Orange Coast College, has hardly been as stark

the last two meetings.

The Artists (1-5, 0-1), coached by former longtime Corona del Mar head

man Dave Holland, came up only six points short last fall, 35-29, after

losing, 35-12, in 1998. The previous eight games, Mesa had outscored them

by nearly 40 points per contest.

Adding intrigue this season is the Mustangs’ fragile self-esteem,

after absorbing a 37-7 trouncing from CdM in last week’s league opener.

“Their spirit and enthusiasm are bruised,” Howell said of his players,

who, since gaining the No. 1 ranking in CIF Southern Section Division IX

with a 3-0 start, have been beaten twice. Mesa committed a combined 12

turnovers in the two lopsided losses, including a 29-7 nonleague setback

to Ocean View in Week 4.

The Mustangs (4-2, 0-1), ranked No. 8 in Division IX, still maintain

PCL title aspirations, but can afford no other missteps.

“Laguna Beach is sound and solid,” Howell said. “It’s a good football

team, which shouldn’t sneak up on us. If we make the mistakes we’ve been

making, they’ll beat us.”

Laguna’s challenge will be going toe-to-toe with the Mustangs, who

have relied on their smashmouth running game to compile nearly 75% of

their 2,165 offensive yards.

That ground game has been led by sophomore tailback Keola Asuega, who

has collected 580 yards and nine touchdowns on 106 carries. But Asuega

could be sidelined by a foot injury, according to Howell, who would then

turn to senior Alvin Nguyen (350 yards and seven tDs on 33 carries).

The backfield will also feature the return of senior fullback Daniel

Hunter, who did not play against CdM due to a concussion and a lingering

ankle sprain.

Senior Patrick Hulliger, who sat out the CdM game due to disciplinary

reasons, should return at quarterback. He has completed 44 of 84 for 523

yards and three TDs.

Senior Lenny Lukela is Mesa’s leading receiver with 18 catches for 217

yards.

Laguna Beach, which has lost its last six PCL contests -- though the

last five have been by an average margin of about eight points -- is led

offensively by senior receiver Will Blodgett.

A 6-foot-2, 180-pounder who earned second-team all-league laurels as a

junior, Blodgett has 32 receptions for 598 yards and four TDs. He is

closing in on the school single-season reception record of 57, set by

Luke Matjas in 1992.

Junior quarterback Todd Merz has thrown for 898 yards and four TDs,

but has completed just 53 of 131 with eight interceptions. His

contribution also includes six field goals, with a long of 37 yards.

The Artists’ ground game is keyed by junior running back Jason Boyd,

who has 410 yards and three TDs on 62 attempts.

Mesa’s defense is led by senior inside linebacker Louis Day and senior

Antony Grubisich, who shifts from tackle to inside linebacker this week.

The Mustangs lead the series, 15-3.