Mesa can’t keep up

IRVINE — Behind the Costa Mesa High sideline, a banner read: “MESA WE WANT A TD.”

It took 10 quarters for the Mustangs to deliver one on the football field.

At least they accomplished that for the first time this season.

For the rest of Thursday night, Irvine controlled the nonleague home game to win, 42-7, and hand Costa Mesa its third straight loss.

The Mustangs have been outscored, 132-10, on the road.

The offense has sputtered early on that it even gave the ball to 6-foot-2, 250-pounder tackle Travis Whitlock.

On a fourth-and-two on the opposition’s 28, No. 68 lined up in the backfield and took the handoff.

Whitlock smashed his way through for three yards with less than a minute left before halftime.

Too bad Whitlock couldn’t go out for passes.

The offense never moved again during the drive, turning the ball over in the air for the second time in the half.

The three teams from the Pacific Coast League haven’t treated Coach Jeremy Osso so kindly.

Anything Pacific-related, from the ocean to the highway, the Mustangs (0-3) will try to avoid. The way they are performing, the Mustangs won’t see a PCL team again this year because they will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs.

“We’re constantly battling adversity here,” said Osso, whose team committed four turnovers. “I think [next week] will help energize us.”

Costa Mesa goes home to turn things around against Santa Ana. The game marks the first time the Mustangs play at Jim Scott Stadium, the new $9.5 million state-of-the-art facility at Estancia High.

Even in that game, Osso said before the year the Mustangs are treating it like a road game. They will come out of the visiting locker room.

Once Costa Mesa exited the one at Irvine (2-1), Michael Ernst made sure to deflate the Mustangs.

The senior returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown, giving the Vaqueros the lead early in the first quarter.

“It was a good start for us,” said Ernst, who returned his first punt for a score.

The scoring didn’t stop.

Hector Solis was a busy man for Costa Mesa. He punted eight times.

Irvine’s ground game took advantage of the numerous opportunities, outgaining the Mustangs, 260-70. Four players found the end zone, too.

Tra’shon Young and Justin Reihanifam totaled 178 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries.

Defensively, the Vaqueros got to quarterback Todd Davis and sacked him twice. The junior left late in the first quarter after getting sandwiched by 6-7, 255-pound defensive end Nik Abele and linebacker Shane Whippo.

“Todd got his bell rung because we’re still not picking up some blitzes,” Osso said. “He could’ve come back in the game, but when the game is 28-7 [Irvine], you just [act] precautionary.”

In came last year’s starting quarterback, Brian Waldron.

The Mustangs were in business after outside linebacker Nick Blucker intercepted a pass and returned it 38 yards to Irvine’s 18.

On the first play, Waldron fumbled the snap. Luckily for the Mustangs, the junior recovered.

Waldron fumbled again, but the ball bounced right back to him. He was able to record a first down, the team’s first of the game.

It took 16 minutes to do so. That didn’t compare to how long Costa Mesa waited to find the end zone this season.

Robbie Gemayel ran it in from five yards out with 7:25 left in the second quarter. The rest of night, the offense came close to scoring twice, only to see Irvine end each threat with an interception.

So how do the Mustangs turn it around?

“We just got to win,” said Blucker, uttering words that would make for a good banner at next week’s home opener.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].