Nguyen, Defense Help Mustangs Bounce Back to Top Laguna Beach

Alvin Nguyen rushed for 163 yards in 33 carries and Costa Mesa’s defense had seven sacks and forced three turnovers as the Mustangs rebounded from a tough loss last week to beat Laguna Beach, 17-14, Thursday at Orange Coast College.

Costa Mesa, which lost to Corona del Mar, 37-7, last week, fell behind when Artist quarterback Todd Merz hit receiver Will Blodgett with a 33-yard touchdown pass six minutes into the game. The Mustangs (5-2, 1-1 in league) tied the score after fullback Daniel Hunter scored on a four-yard run early in the second quarter.

Laguna Beach (1-6, 0-2) answered when Anil Adams returned the kickoff 42 yards to put the ball at the Costa Mesa 39. Dan Woods scored from four yards eight plays later to give the Artists a 14-7 lead.

A 30-yard field goal by Luis Avalos brought Costa Mesa to within four points at halftime, and Nguyen scored on a 44-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to put the Mustangs up for good, 17-14.

“They over-pursued to the left, and I broke to the right,” Nguyen said of the touchdown run. “Once the offensive line opened up that hole, I was gone. It was big to get this win after last week’s loss.”

Nguyen took over as the lead running back after Keola Asuega, Costa Mesa’s leading rusher, was held out of the game with a sprained foot. Asuega is day-to-day.

“[Nguyen] played well tonight, and it was necessary,” Costa Mesa Coach Jerry Howell said.

Sean Biggio and Patrick Hulliger each had two fourth-quarter sacks for the Mustangs, and Nick Cabico intercepted a Blodgett pass on a trick play late in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.