PREP FOOTBALL : Costa Mesa Holds Off University, 14-10

Costa Mesa High School capitalized on two fumbles to take an early 14-0 lead, and the Mustangs held off a second-half comeback attempt by University for a 14-10 Sea View League victory Thursday night on Davidson Field in Costa Mesa.

Costa Mesa’s Tyler Ridell forced two first-half fumbles that enabled the Mustangs to go ahead, 14-0, midway through the second quarter.

University’s first fumble, with 2:56 left in the first quarter, set up a 23-yard scoring drive by Costa Mesa. Quarterback Paul Rodriquez scored from a yard out with two seconds left to cap the seven-play drive. Paul Grady missed the conversion kick and Costa Mesa led, 6-0.

Costa Mesa’s Kevin Day recovered the Trojans’ second fumble of the game at the Mustang 30-yard line just two minutes into the second quarter. Costa Mesa drove 70 yards in 8 plays as Rodriquez teaming up with Erich Vogel on a 33-yard scoring pass with 5:55 left in the half. Costa Mesa’s attempt at a pass for the two-point conversion failed, but University was called for holding and Ridell ran it in on the second attempt for a 14-0 lead.

University, which had been limited to 35 yards in the first half, mounted an impressive scoring drive to open the second half. The Trojans, led by running back Adam Leitner, went 84 yards in 14 plays with Leitner scoring from three yards out with 4:44 remaining in the quarter. Leitner carried the ball five times for 31 yards and had a 15-yard reception in the drive.

The Trojans got the ball back at the Mustang 45 and drove to the 13 in three plays. On third down from the 13, however, quarterback Bart Silberman was thrown for a two-yard loss, and University had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Will Ferrell.

Costa Mesa had the ball for most of the fourth quarter, and when University did get possession, it couldn’t sustain a drive.

The win, which evened Costa Mesa’s league record at 2-2 (3-4 overall), was important to Mustang Coach Tom Baldwin for another reason.

“This was a big win. I’ve been coaching for 30 years and it took me seven years to lose 13 games,” Baldwin said. “I’ve lost 13 games in a year and a half here, so you bet it was a big win.”

Costa Mesa’s Rodriquez completed 10 of 27 pass attempts for 152 yards and was intercepted twice. John Carlson was the Mustangs’ leading receiver with 7 receptions for 82 yards and he rushed for 57 yards on 16 carries.

University, which turned the ball over five times, fell to 0-4 in league and 1-6 overall.