Plenty of inner competition for Mustangs

Steve Virgen

Throughout the off-season and especially during spring practice,

Costa Mesa High football coach Dave Perkins has been doing his best

to keep the dreaded “C” word away from his players. He wants the

Mustangs to avoid complacency.

Perkins’ strategy has come quite naturally, as the Mustangs,

defending champions of the Golden West League, have been developing

positive competition among each other. As a result, Perkins has

gained much confidence for the upcoming season.

“We had a great spring,” Perkins said of practices which ended

June 13. “We’re going to be every bit as good as last year, and I

think we will be better. We have a great deal of kids and good

competition. There is a lot of competition at every spot.”

The Mustangs feature eight returning starters on defense and seven

returning starters on offense, but the starting positions are not set

in stone.

The Mesa players have been further motivated as they prepare for a

scrimmage and the pre-league season. The Mustangs will play in a

three-team scrimmage with Cabrillo of Long Beach and Tustin Friday

Sept. 5 at Tustin.

The Mustangs are also drawing extra adrenaline as they eye their

season opener, which will be against Corona del Mar.

“We sent the message to the kids that they need to get ready, and

they have really responded,” Perkins said.

Perkins spoke with an enthusiastic tone when discussing the

incoming sophomores and juniors. The Costa Mesa junior varsity and

freshman teams each won the Golden West League title last year.

Perkins also talked about an addition to his backfield: Qualic

Vargas, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound running back who transferred from a

school in Kansas. Perkins said Vargas has been clocked around 4.7 in

the 40-yard dash. The Mesa backfield also includes Omar Ruiz, who

will be a senior.

Junior to-be Bruce Wilkerson, a transfer from Loara, sophomore

to-be Ryan French, last year’s junior varsity quarterback, and Mike

Torreanueva, who will be a senior, have been vying for the starting

quarterback position.

Perkins said spring practice included 78 players and two new

coaches. Jesse Sapolu, the former Pro-Bowl offensive lineman for the

San Francisco 49ers, will be the offensive line and strength and

conditioning coach. His son, Luke, is a lineman for the Mustangs.

Tom Baldwin, the former Mesa head coach, is back with the

Mustangs. Baldwin, the defensive coordinator at Calvary Chapel last

year, will be the quarterback and outside linebacker coach for Costa

Mesa.