PREP EXTRA / SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Costa Mesa Records Early Knockout of Laguna Beach

Costa Mesa’s running game proved to be too much for Laguna Beach as the Mustangs pounded the Artists, 56-14, in the Pacific Coast League opener Friday for both teams.

The Mustangs got 163 yards rushing from Dewayne Crenshaw and Charles Chatman added 141 yards and four touchdowns. The Artists tried using no down defensive linemen in an effort to get jump on the Mustang offensive line, but it was to no avail.

The Mustangs struck immediately when Brian Reeves returned the opening kickoff 95 yards. On the Mustangs’ first play from scrimmage, Crenshaw broke up the middle for a 66-yard run to set his team up at the Artist 16. Two plays later Chatman ran 14 yards for the Mustangs’ second touchdown.

In the second quarter the Mustangs scored three more touchdowns to take a commanding lead. Chatman got his second touchdown with a 3-yard run, and four minutes later Ryan Taylor hit John Schroeder for a 30-yard touchdown pass.

With 1 minute 54 seconds left in the half, Laguna Beach scored with a 74-yard drive that ended with a McDonagh 5-yard run. But Chatman later scored on a 34-yard run to give the Mustangs a 35-7 halftime lead.

Early in the third quarter, Josh Amezola intercepted a Nate Pivaroff pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. Chatman and Schroeder each added touchdown runs of 41 and seven yards, respectively.