Matador Defense Can’t Stop Mustangs

The matchup didn’t look good on paper and it didn’t get any better on the field as Costa Mesa rolled past Bolsa Grande, 52-0, in a nonleague game Friday at Orange Coast College.

Costa Mesa (2-0), ranked second in the Southern Section Division IX poll, more than quadrupled the total yardage for Bolsa Grande (0-2), which lost for the 21st time in its last 22 games.

Alvin Nguyen rushed for three touchdowns, Patrick Hulliger passed for two more, and Louis Day--who also caught a touchdown pass--recovered a fumble and had a sack to highlight a defense that forced five turnovers and limited Bolsa Grande to 94 total yards. The Matadors reached Costa Mesa territory only twice.

But Costa Mesa was still frustrated with the blowout.

“We did a lot of silly things in the first half,” Costa Mesa Coach Jerry Howell said, referring to his team’s four illegal procedure and two clipping penalties during its first four possessions. “We’re a better team than that.

“But we got things going in the second half. We’re fortunate this is only the second week and we have time to work on these things.”

Bolsa Grande stayed within striking distance for a half, maintaining the deficit at 21-0 after Daniel Nevarez intercepted a Hulliger pass inside the Matador 10 with 1 minute 47 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Then the Mustangs broke the game open in the third quarter, scoring three touchdowns in the first seven minutes to make it 42-0.

“At halftime, Coach told us we needed to step it up,” Nguyen said.

Jason Hurley, who rushed for a team-high 82 yards in eight carries, took the cue and scored on a 54-yard touchdown run 51 seconds into the third quarter.

After a Bolsa Grande punt, Day caught a 16-yard pass from Hulliger and followed it with a 36-yard scoring reception off a post pattern to make it 35-0.

Nguyen, who also scored on runs of 40 and two yards, scored on a one-yard run to make it 42-0 with 5:08 remaining in the third quarter.

Hulliger completed seven of 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns, including a 59-yard strike to Mike Gardiner in the first quarter.

Paul Bui and Daniel Pineda each rushed for 35 yards to lead Bolsa Grande.