High School Football: Costa Mesa vs. Western

Costa Mesa vs. Western

When/where: Friday, 7 p.m. at Jim Scott Stadium

Key Mustangs: Jr. MLB-FB Oronde Crenshaw; Sr. LG Oscar Reyes; Sr. RB-CB Justin Smith.

Key Pioneers: Sr. RB Kyle Manliguis; Sr. QB Chris Zarate; Sr. DE Amosa Masaniai.

Breakdown: Costa Mesa kicks off the season looking to win its first season opener since 2001 … The Mustangs will try to beat Western for the first time as the Pioneers hold a 4-0-1 edge in the series … Costa Mesa is coming off its first eight-win season in nine years … The Mustangs made the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs last year, while Western missed the Southwest Division playoffs for the third straight year … Last season, the Pioneers almost upset Corona del Mar, the eventual Southern Division champion, before losing, 22-21, in a nonleague game.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza