At Mira Costa, Three Vying For Quarterback Job

The academic year is coming to a close, but for Dennis Falcone, Dalton Crawford, and Chris Rogers the learning process is in full swing as they compete in spring football practices to become the next starting quarterback at Mira Costa High.

The Mustangs lost a number of talented seniors from a team that went 12-2 and won the CIF-Southern Section Western Division championship, but finding a replacement for graduating senior Kyle Demarco is no small task.

Demarco led a Mustangs' offense that averaged 35.2 points per game and peppered a few Bay League rivals, putting up 42 points on Palos Verdes Peninsula, 45 on Leuzinger and 56 on Redondo Union.

''What we've done in the spring time so far is, each Friday has been competition day for the quarterbacks, so they've already been under great competition,'' Coach Don Morrow said, of the three quarterbacks. ''They've competed well. There have been days when one guy has shined more, so it's kind of gone back and forth.

''We're just kind of going to let it work its way out. We're trying to look right now just for the little things, as you might imagine, like managing the huddle, making sure everybody is lined up properly, controlling the cadence. They're doing fine with that, and they kind of all have their own strengths.''

The three quarterbacks – Falcone and Crawford will be seniors next season, and Rogers a junior – will get another chance to move forward on June 19 when Mira Costa participates in a 7 on 7 tournament at Beverly Hills High.

And by the end of the summer, Morrow said he and his staff will have selected a starting quarterback. ''We've tried to platoon before, and [backup quarterback] Adam Lawrence, he was terrific last year and he was neck and neck with Demarco as a junior and as a senior, too, but I don't think I personally manage a platoon system very well so I'd prefer to have one clear-cut guy,'' he said.

''We're in no hurry. We're looking at it closely and the boys are doing a good job, they're just battling, which is cool. It's competition. You might as well get used to it.''

Mira Costa, 22-6 over the past two seasons, does have a lot of talent to surround Falcone or Crawford, who are solid in the passing game, or Rogers, who is the better runner. And if building a strong team comes from the inside out, the Mustangs are in good shape with key players returning on both lines, starting with defensive lineman J.R. Tavai, the CIF-SS Western Division defensive player of the year.

"He's on the short list of the best athletes this program has had, I can't say enough about his ability; he is a beast out there," Morrow said.

In the secondary cornerback Deon Morris returns along with free safety J.R. Oshima, who will inherit the starting spot after gaining valuable playing time in the playoffs.

"Oshima had two interceptions and could have had three in that championship game, he is going to be big for us this season making all the calls and getting everyone in the right spots in the secondary," Morrow said.

The linebacking corps will have several new faces, as the spring and summer competition will be important as a large contingent of players vie for starting spots. Noah Rossi and Derek Largent are names to watch at the position with their spring play impressing coaches.

"Noah has waited his turn, he's really jumped out to a good start," Morrow said.  "Largent is someone who's newer to the program, but he's a great athlete with good size and I expect him to be in the mix next fall."

Whoever emerges under center will benefit from the return of Brett Darragh and Jimmy Lee on the offensive line, as well as a talented group of running backs to choose from.

Tavai, dominant as a lead-blocker at fullback position, may also play some at tailback as the Mustangs look to make further use of his considerable talents. Tajes Mobley averaged nearly seven yards per carry last season as a reserve, and will compete with Steve Giovati and Alec Weaver among others for carries in the Mustangs' offense. 

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