Mustangs overrun by Wildcats

Rick Devereux

The second start of the Tom Baldwin era for Costa Mesa High football

began with a 21-7 nonleague loss to Brea Olinda, Thursday night at

Newport Harbor High.

“Everything we did wrong, we can correct,” the 72-year old head

coach told his team after the game.

Indeed, the Mustangs bobbled the center-quarterback exchange five

times, with two resulting in turnovers.

Another turnover deep into Wildcat territory halted another drive.

A missed tackle created an 80-yard touchdown for Brea Olinda in

the fourth quarter.

“Our defense played very well,” Baldwin said. “We just had a

couple big turnovers [on offense].”

Brea Olinda recovered a fumble halfway through the first quarter.

Two plays later, it looked as if the Mesa defense was going to be

able to hold the Wildcats scoreless following a sack and forced

fumble by Jasbir Seewat and recovery by Jeff Waldron.

But a defensive holding penalty gave Brea Olinda an automatic

first down on the 21. The next play, quarterback Eric Anicich

connected with tight end Tommy Gallarda for a touchdown.

The Mustangs received the kickoff and put together a nine-play,

63-yard drive and looked ready to tie the game. On the first play of

the second quarter, Ryan French completed a pass in the flat to a

receiver who juked his way to the 6-yard line, only to have the ball

stripped out as he was being tackled by Justin Goyea.

Six plays later, Goyea ran off the right tackle for a 58-yard

score.

But the Mustangs did not give up or give in.

The defense recovered a Wildcat fumble on the Brea Olinda 13 to

start the second half, but Mesa was unable to come away with any

points.

The Mustangs put together a 12-play, 65-yard drive in the fourth

quarter, capped off with a 9-yard touchdown run by Tyler Legg with

4:40 left in the contest. Legg finished with 17 carries for a team-high 60 yards.

“I thought Legg played well, especially considering it was his

first time carrying [the ball] on varsity,” Baldwin said.

The very next play on offense, Anicich threw a quick slant to

David Fullerton, who broke one tackle and was off to the races for an

80-yard touchdown for the 21-7 final.

“Brea has a real strong program,” assistant coach Eddie Steward

said. “We gave up a couple big plays, but I don’t think we played too

badly.”

Subtract the 58-yard scamper and the defense held Gonyea to 49

yards on 13 carries.

Legg was the leading rusher for the Mustangs, and Jeff Waldron

finished with 101 yards receiving on five catches.

“What can you say about Jeff?” Baldwin said. “He made great plays

out there.”

French threw four jump balls to Waldron, and the tight end caught

three of them with the other floating out of bounds. He was also

active as linebacker.

Baldwin said he was impressed with the play of his team,

especially considering the number of new players on the varsity

level. He said he expects a jump in the level of play when Costa Mesa

plays Corona del Mar Sept. 10 at Newport Harbor High.

“The biggest improvement for players is between the first and

second game,” Baldwin said.

The game showed an improvement in many aspects from last year’s

team for Costa Mesa.

French’s 10 completions and 148 yards through the air would have

been Mesa single-game highs in 2003.

Waldron’s 101 receiving yards would have been the second-best

single-game performance for a receiver in 2003.

“The game came down to a couple of big turnovers,” Baldwin said.

“Those are things that happen in football, though.”