Mustangs out of sync

WESTMINSTER — One last time, they stood together, the football players of Costa Mesa High, singing their fight song.

They sang low and off key, perhaps symbolic of what had just taken place on the field Friday night at Bolsa Grande.

The Mustangs struggled to find rhythm, as Santiago used a ball-control style offense to wither Costa Mesa. The Cavaliers used up roughly 31 minutes to score a 24-6 victory in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs.

Santiago (9-2) had Brian Perez and Julian Martinez combine for 323 rushing yards and three touchdowns. They had 23 carries each. That left the Mustangs (6-5) with another loss in the opening round of the playoffs. They haven’t won a playoff game since 1997 and last year they lost to the Cavaliers, 17-14, in another first-round exit.

“It was tough,” Costa Mesa Coach Jeremy Osso said of the game. “Their team ran the ball all night. It’s tough to do anything when they have the ball all night.”

The Mustangs tried to get the ball right from the start, as they opened the game with an onside kick. But the Cavaliers recovered. Three plays later, Perez ran in a 41-yard touchdown and Santiago was on its way.

The Cavaliers killed 16 1/2 minutes off the clock in the first half and gained 12 first downs. They had 21 first downs for the game, while Costa Mesa had 10 first downs, four coming from penalties.

“Heartbreaking,” Costa Mesa High senior Brian Waldron said of the loss.

The wide receiver had 10 catches for 135 yards in his final game.

“We had such high hopes for the season,” he said. “We felt this was our best chance to go far and it all kind of crumbled in front of us. It’s tough, but we gave it our all and that’s all you can ask for.

“They just grinded us down. They controlled the game and that was difference.”

Santiago, which finished second in the Garden Grove League, moves on to play La Mirada, which beat Santa Ana, 44-3.

The Mustangs finished second in the Orange Coast League. They were able to avoid a shutout against the Cavaliers.

After quarterback Todd Davis drove Costa Mesa to the Santiago nine-yard line with two key passes to Waldron, Josh Erno scored from nine yards out. Costa Mesa recovered the ensuing onside kick, but couldn’t move the ball again.

“I’m proud of the guys for their effort all year long,” said Osso, who completed his fourth season. “It’s a great senior class that’s going to be missed. I’m proud of where they’ve come. We’ve come a long way since they were freshmen. The program was not very good and they’ve done a good job to get it back where it needs to go. It’s in the right direction.”

Santiago 24, Costa Mesa 6

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Costa Mesa 0-0-0-6--6

Santiago 7-3-0-14--24

FIRST QUARTER

Sant – Perez 41 run (Languren kick), 10:37.

SECOND QUARTER

Sant – Laguren 27 FG, 0:05.

FOURTH QUARTER

Sant – Perez 41 run (Languren kick), 11:53.

CM – Erno 9 run (pass failed), 3:47.

Sant – Martinez 34 run (Languren kick), 1:14. 

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CM – Sheffner, 4-6; Miller, 2-2; Gomez, 6-16; Waldron, 1-13; Erno 4-18, 1 TD; Davis, 2-minus-6.

Sant – Perez, 23-197, 2 TDs; Martinez, 23-126, 1 TD; Lagunas, 2-12; Ortega, 2-2; Carrera, 1-0.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CM – Davis, 12-20-1, 144.

Sant – Ortega, 5-9-0, 43.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

CM – Waldron, 10-135; Gomez, 1-8; Erno, 1-1.

Sant – Lagunas, 3-17; Languren, 1-15; Sanchez, 1-11.