Prep football: Bravehearts, Costa Mesa linebackers: Make-over makes

good

Barry Faulkner

As soon as Costa Mesa High football coach Jerry Howell pulled rank,

the Mustangs’ linebacking corps started pulling its weight.

Unhappy with defensive performance, Howell overwhelmed his assistant

coaches’ reluctance to shake up three-fourths of the starting linebacker

lineup.

The result was a more athletic, more physical and more aggressive

group, which helped contain Laguna Beach and key a 17-14 Pacific Coast League victory Thursday at Orange Coast College.

“It was a decision that had to be made,” Howell said of shifting

seniors Patrick Hulliger from safety, Alvin Nguyen from end and Antony

Grubisich from tackle to bolster senior standout Louis Day in the

Mustangs’ four-four scheme. “It probably should have been done awhile

ago. I finally had to drag some of my coaches screaming and yelling, but

they just had to swallow the pill. And I thought the linebackers were the

key (against Laguna).”

The starting quartet was also enhanced by senior Sean Biggio, who

played very well while spelling Nguyen, who carried 33 times at tailback.

Biggio, who did not play last year while attending Mater Dei, led the

linebackers with two quarterback sacks.

Hulliger, also the starting quarterback, returned to the outside

‘backer spot he played as a junior. He had a solo sack and shared another

as the Mustangs amassed seven sacks for minus 58 yards.

The 5-foot-10, 245-pound Grubisich, an All-PCL defensive tackle as a

junior, joined Day (6-3, 170) inside to help limit Laguna to 27 yards

rushing.

Of Laguna Beach’s 34 rushing attempts, including sacks, only three

went for more than 4 yards, with a long of 16.

“Grubisich is experienced and he’s a very good athlete,” Howell said.

“Even with only a week of practice, he stepped up at linebacker.”

Hulliger, though a modest 6-1, 175, brought more muscle to the group,

while Nguyen, a diminutive 5-7, 155, was better able to utilize his

quickness in space.

“Day had been sticking out head and shoulders above our other

linebackers, but he moved back in the pack,” Howell said. “It had nothing

to do with Louis playing any worse; it was just that everyone else was

better.”