Mustangs look for shocker

Costa Mesa High football coach Jeremy Osso knows that Laguna Beach will be heavy favorites against his Mustangs tonight at 7 at Newport Harbor High.

He said that doesn’t really bother him as his team heads into its regular-season finale.

“I don’t think there’s anybody who thinks we’ll win this game,” said Osso, returning from a school-issued one game suspension. “But the guys have really focused on the task this week, and that’s taking care of business and coming home with the league title.”

With a win tonight, Costa Mesa (3-6, 1-1 in the Orange Coast League) can indeed clinch a share of the league championship, a feat that Laguna Beach (4-5, 2-0) accomplished with last week’s 21-14 win over Estancia.

After Estancia (1-1 in league) plays last-place Calvary Chapel on Friday, there could be a three-way tie for first place, which would cause a coin flip to determine the league’s two automatic entries into the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs.

If Costa Mesa wins tonight and Estancia falls on Friday, the Mustangs will clinch one of the playoff spots.

But none of that will matter to the Mustangs, who have won two of three, if they can’t take care of business against the Breakers during tonight’s homecoming game.

Osso said that Costa Mesa, like Estancia last week, will focus on stopping Laguna Beach junior quarterback Charley Bowman.

“We adjusted the defense a little bit,” Osso said. “If you take him away, or limit what he does, you have a good shot of winning the game. They’re not afraid to hand the ball to anyone, but down on the goal line, they only trust Bowman. But, if you don’t stay disciplined on defense, they’re going to score a lot of points on you.”

But while the Eagles limited Bowman to just 105 yards passing and 38 yards rushing — well below his season averages — four turnovers hurt Estancia as well.

That highlighted another of Osso’s keys to tonight’s game: not making mistakes.

“Everything has to be perfect this week,” he said. “We can’t have anybody jogging routes. Defensively, you need to wrap up. We need to do the little things. It’s just compounded more because of what’s at stake here.”

Osso said the ankle of receiver Kirkland Huynh is feeling stronger for tonight, and he will start on offense. Huynh’s absence for much of the second half of last week’s 21-14 win over Calvary Chapel opened the door for senior Asa Hawks, who finished with two touchdown catches from Cody Waldron.

Osso said sophomore Manuel Gomez played well at cornerback in Huynh’s absence on defense, and Soto will start at the position tonight for Costa Mesa.

“With Kirkland out, we were able to see some other guys,” Osso said. “Manuel did a really good job.”

D.J. Lepper, whose 144 yards rushing against Calvary were his most since a 178-yard performance in the season-opener against Savannah, will also see plenty of touches.

On the year, the senior has rushed for 784 yards and four touchdowns.

“If D.J. runs for another 130 or 140 yards, we have a good shot at winning,” Osso said. “The big thing we have to do is limit the mistakes, limit the turnovers.”

A win tonight would also give the Mustangs four wins, which is the amount of total wins Costa Mesa had in 2004 and 2005 combined.

“Practice has been crisp,” Osso said. “The guys seem focused. It’s just a matter of taking advantage of the opportunities we get. We have to do that and stay disciplined.”

Costa Mesa has traditionally played Laguna Beach in nonleague games before the two teams joined the Orange Coast League. In 2005, the Breakers beat the Mustangs, 31-9, behind Bowman’s two touchdown passes and rushing score.