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Football: Mustangs take to air

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SANTA ANA — A week after punting twice on third down, Costa Mesa High decided to throw the football on third down, and even on first and second down as well.

Through the first two quarters on Thursday, the run-happy Mustangs passed as much as they had in their previous two combined Orange Coast League games. They went to the air with a new quarterback, Eric Carrasco. In his first start on varsity, the sophomore almost threw for as many yards as the previous signal caller had during the first seven games of the year.

Carrasco got the nod against Godinez because Sammy Swanson tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last week. A new week, a new quarterback, and the Mustangs have a new attitude in league after shutting out the Grizzlies, 24-0, at Segerstrom High.

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“We finally ran into a team that allowed us to do some things to throw the ball,” Costa Mesa Coach Wally Grant said.

“I was kind of left with no choice [but to start Carrasco with Swanson done for the season]. He played very well. He’s just a pup.”

Carrasco, who completed nine of 14 passes for 124 yards and one touchdown, has the Mustangs back in contention for a league title. He never got a chance to lead the Mustangs during the first seven games in which Costa Mesa went 1-6. Nevertheless, the last time the Mustangs began the season with that kind of record they went on to share the league crown seven years ago.

They have a lot of work ahead of them to finish at the top again. Picking up their second victory in league is a good start for the Mustangs.

Two league games remain for Costa Mesa (2-6, 2-1 in league), next week against Saddleback and the following one against Calvary Chapel. The Mustangs get to play those two at home, albeit as the visiting team against Calvary Chapel.

Costa Mesa played away from Jim Scott Stadium for only the second time this season. The program’s final road contest in the regular season turned out much better than its first, a 34-6 setback to Katella at Glover Stadium in Anaheim.

The Mustangs didn’t travel far, playing right where Costa Mesa and Santa Ana meet. They played as though they were at home, posting their second shutout and keeping Godinez winless.

Costa Mesa jumped on the Grizzlies (0-8, 0-3) on the game’s opening drive. The offense marched 65 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead. The drive featured 10 runs by four players, but it was two pass plays that moved the chains twice.

Carrasco went to Cameron Curet, who finished with five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Carrasco hit Curet for an 11-yard pass on third-and-eight, setting up Costa Mesa near midfield.

Six plays later, Carrasco went to Curet again, this time for a 12-yard gain. On the opponent’s 15-yard line, the Mustangs ran Darmonta Davis three straight times, and the last effort resulted in a four-yard touchdown. Davis rushed 11 times for 56 yards.

On defense, Curet, a linebacker, and Davis, a cornerback, stood out as well. Curet picked off a pass in the first quarter, one of his two for the game, and Davis intercepted a pass in the second quarter.

Safety Michael Dias made the biggest interception off Godinez quarterback Michael Rodriguez, who threw four picks. Three minutes into the fourth quarter, with the Grizzlies inside Costa Mesa’s 30-yard line and down, 14-0, Dias jumped a pass near the sideline, and he returned the interception for a 74-yard touchdown to put the game away.

Carrasco didn’t have to throw the ball around much in the second half. His first outing as the starter left him 15 passing yards shy of Swanson’s total of 139 for the season, and one off Swanson’s 10 completions for the season.

“[Grant] just thought we [had done] a good job of running, and thought we could do better on our passing,” said Carrasco, who was the starting quarterback on Costa Mesa’s junior varsity team, until Swanson went down last week in the Mustangs’ 28-3 loss to Estancia in the Battle for the Bell rivalry game.

“It was an amazing first experience. It was the best experience I’ve ever had.”

Costa Mesa 24, Godinez 0

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Costa Mesa 7 – 7 – 0 – 10 — 24

Godinez 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 — 0

FIRST QUARTER

CM – Davis 4 run (Curet kick), 5:59.

SECOND QUARTER

CM – Curet 34 pass from Carrasco (Curet kick), 4:01.

FOURTH QUARTER

CM – Dias 74 INT return (Curet kick), 8:55.

CM – Curet 20 FG, 4:06.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CM – Davis, 11-56, 1 TD.

G – Rodriguez, 10-34.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CM – Carrasco, 9-14-0, 124, 1 TD.

G – Rodriguez, 9-29-4, 109.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

CM – Curet, 5-105, 1 TD.

G – Castro, 3-42.

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