Tough opening night

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One of the more interesting Bay League openers this week will involve Mira Costa (2-3) and West Torrance (5-0), the No. 21 team in the Southland according to The Times, in a 7 p.m. game at Mira Costa.

The Mustangs will be at home but have lost both of their games there this season.

West Torrance, ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Western Division coaches’ poll, is unbeaten but has not played as tough a schedule as Mira Costa, which has been on the wrong end of a 17-12 loss to Esperanza, a 47-39 defeat to Narbonne and a 39-30 setback at Newport Harbor.

Mira Costa has allowed nearly as many points (152) as it has scored (164), while West began the season with three consecutive shutouts and has outscored opponents by a 201-24 margin.

Both teams rely heavily on their top running backs, Adrien Dotson of Mira Costa and Brian Baucham, pictured right, of West Torrance. Both have big-play potential, with Baucham racking up 1,027 yards and 15 touchdowns in 81 carries and Dotson rushing for 707 yards in 120 carries and averaging more than 34 yards on kickoff returns.

Both teams beat their only common opponent, with Mira Costa topping North Torrance, 53-35, and West Torrance beating the Saxons, 42-7.

It’s a tough call, but I think West Torrance will pass a significant test in this one.

- Lauren Peterson

-- Image by Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times