Mustangs’ long uphill path continues

Costa Mesa grid pre vs. SaddlebackSaddleback is latest challenge for Costa Mesa, which has lost nine straight.The Costa Mesa High football team is in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, including an 0-7 start this season.

Coming off the program’s most lopsided loss in 42 seasons -- a 55-0 setback to Santa Ana Saturday -- Friday’s 7 p.m. league clash with visiting Saddleback (2-4, 1-2) at Orange Coast College would appear to offer some reason for optimism.

But first-year Costa Mesa Coach Jay Johnson isn’t so sure.

“I put [the Roadrunners] on the same level as Santa Ana,” Johnson said. “They’re a good team. They have some good players and looking at their scores and the teams they’ve played, I consider them a tough team.”

The Mustangs, winless in three Golden West League games, have been anything but tough. They are averaging just more than seven points per game, third-fewest in Orange County. And their defense is allowing 36.7 points per contest, better than only winless Bolsa Grande (43 per game) among county schools.

“I think the effort will still be there,” Johnson said. “But with the injuries and the low numbers we have, if we don’t play close to a perfect game, we don’t really have a shot at beating some of these teams. I think our kids understand what they’re up against, but that won’t affect how hard they play or the effort they give.”

Saddleback, meanwhile, figures to be bolstered by its 21-14 win over Ocean View Friday.

Coach Jeoff Meek’s squad and Costa Mesa have played two common opponents thus far. Saddleback lost to Westminster, 21-0, and the Mustangs were beaten, 47-6, by the Lions. The Roadrunners dropped a 34-7 decision to Santa Ana.

With Westminster, Orange and Santa Ana apparently the top three teams in the league, Saddleback is among those battling for the seven-team league’s fourth automatic CIF Southern Section Division VII playoff berth.

The Roadrunners have scored just 56 points in six games, an average of 9.3 per outing. They have struggled to assemble much of a passing game. Their running attack is keyed by Michael Deckard, who has 473 yards and two touchdowns on 83 carries.

Costa Mesa is paced by senior tailback Ivan Ruiz, who has 246 rushing yards and one touchdown in three games since returning from a preseason knee injury. Senior quarterback Ryan French has thrown for 266 yards and one touchdown, completing 31 of 87 passes with 11 interceptions.20051020TU1K2S4CNo Caption