Prep football: Point(s) of contention

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Strictly in terms of points, Friday’s nonleague

football game between Costa Mesa High and Westminster -- 7 p.m. at Orange

Coast College -- is a battle of the haves and have nots.

Costa Mesa (2-0 and ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division IX)

leads Orange County in scoring, averaging 50 points per game. Westminster

(0-1-1) has yet to score a point in the new millennium.

Still, Mesa Coach Jerry Howell said the Lions, coached by fourth-year

head man Ted McMillen, could provide the best challenge the Mustangs have

faced this fall.

“It’s as good a challenge as we want to have,” said Howell, who is

attempting to post the third 3-0 start of his six-season tenure. “The

next two weeks (Mesa meets Ocean View Sept. 29), we’ll find out what

we’ve got.”

What the Mustangs have shown so far is a strong running game, a

capable passing attack and an improving defense.

Junior tailback Nick Cabico, limited last week by a hamstring strain,

leads a deep rushing corps with 194 yards and two touchdowns on 23

carries. He also has a team-leading six receptions for 79 yards and one

TD.

Senior Alvin Nguyen, with 160 yards on 17 carries, is averaging a

touchdown every 3.4 attempts. His five TDs include runs of 61 and 40

yards.

Sophomore Jason Hurley (14 carries for 143 yards and two TDs) is

another backfield threat, as is senior fullback Daniel Hunter, who earned

62 yards on nine carries in the opener, but sat out last week with an

ankle sprain.

Senior quarterback Patrick Hulliger has made good on Howell’s plan to

stave off run-stopping defensive schemes that pack defenders near the

line by posing a passing threat.

The left-hander has completed 19 of 34 attempts for 267 yards and two

TDs.

Senior wideout Lenny Lukela (four catches for 43 yards) and senior

tight end Louis Day (two for 52 yards including a 36-yard TD) are among

the 11 different Mustangs with receptions.

Westminster, which followed a 9-0 opening loss to Rancho Alamitos with

a scoreless deadlock with Garden Grove, is one of only two county teams

still without a point.

But the Golden West League’s Lions, who last had a winning season in

1995, have obviously been strong defensively.

They returned 16 players from last year’s squad, which Mesa handled,

16-6, and they have an atypical lack of size.

“They’re not as big as they’ve been, but their defense is really

quick,” Howell said. “They fly around and attack.”

Offensively, the Lions lack of punch has been enhanced by at least six

turnovers. They also have been plagued by penalties, one of which

nullified a touchdown against Garden Grove.

Junior Matt Maciel has six completions and four interceptions, thus

far, while senior Christian Chamberlain is their leading ground gainer

with 76 yards on 19 carries.

Defensively, the Mustangs have been led by inside linebacker Day,

senior tackles Antony Grubisich and Danny Mardikian, Hulliger at safety

and Cabico at cornerback.

Mesa held Bolsa Grande to 105 yards total offense last week, en route

to posting the Mustangs’ third shutout in their last six games.

The Mustangs lead the series, 5-1, and have won their last five

against Golden West League foes.