ORANGE COUNTY / PREP FOOTBALL : ON THE SIDELINES : Costa Mesa Coach Vows to Keep Players

Over the summer, Jimmy Herzog, an All-Pacific Coast League running back, transferred from Costa Mesa High to Santa Margarita. Jerry Howell, Costa Mesa’s coach, said Friday he would do just about anything to keep his current players from leaving.

After junior tailback C.J. Zuniga, a recent transfer from Prescott, Ariz., rushed for 174 yards and four touchdowns in Costa Mesa’s opener against Saddleback, Howell said, “I’m marrying his mother, so they won’t move again. . . . Just don’t tell my wife.”

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Mark McElroy is gone from San Clemente, but he has hardly been forgotten.

McElroy, who took over as head coach at Saddleback College after seven seasons as the Tritons’ coach, was honored at halftime of San Clemente’s opener Friday nightagainst Lynwood.

McElroy said the day was a little surreal. “Being here is odd. I feel like I should be working.”

Actually, McElroy was working. He was scouting talent for Saddleback College.

“Our recruiting area includes 18 schools, and I plan on seeing all 18 this year,” he said.

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After the Tustin back had rushed for 26 yards in four carries, Foothill’s public address announcer had to ask a Tiller coach, “Who’s No. 40?”

Turns out, No. 40 on the field was No. 5 in the program--245-pound senior Marshall Smith.

Asked after the game to explain the number switch, Tustin Coach Myron Miller said, “Marshall kept telling me he wanted No. 5, and I told him there’s no way he could fit his body into that little jersey.”

Smith persisted and somehow squeezed into the jersey for the team photo; however, he could not duplicate the feat before the game Thursday.

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Before Coach Bob Johnson’s new era officially began at Mission Viejo, there already was one noticeable difference--higher program prices. Game programs were selling for $5, compared to $3 last year.

Game program chairperson Dinah Paffrath said the price increase was justified.

“We’re right in line with everybody else,” Paffrath said. “We weren’t making the necessary money for funding the football team. This is our only source to fund-raise. I suggested it and Bob Johnson OKd it.”

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Santa Margarita was moved to the Serra League, but judging by the Eagles’ schedule, they could have moved to San Diego. Three of their seven nonleague games are against San Diego-area opponents.

Santa Margarita defeated Lincoln, 24-6, Thursday. On Friday, it plays at Carlsbad, considered the top team in the San Diego Section, and on Oct. 8, it plays at Rancho Bernardo.

“We’ve had some good [nonleague] success the past few years and not that many county teams would play us,” Eagle Coach Jim Hartigan said. “We kind of feel like an island out here.

“Each of [the San Diego schools] brings something different. Lincoln has speed. Carlsbad will be physical, and Rancho plays a wing-T, something we don’t see that often. These games will definitely help prepare us for league play.”

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Bolsa Grande’s freshman football team opens this morning against Westminster with an untested quarterback. In fact, it will be her first tackle football game.

That’s right, her.

Freshman Crystal Hoskins, who expects to play varsity girls’ basketball and softball this year, will make her debut as the starting quarterback for the freshman team. Hoskins is believed to be the first female quarterback at any level of county high school football.