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  • Northwood quarterback Trevor Lawrence gets off a pass despite coverage...

    Northwood quarterback Trevor Lawrence gets off a pass despite coverage by Costa Mesa's Jonathan Brucales and Sam Swanson during the first half at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa head coach Glen Fisher yells while celebrating with...

    Costa Mesa head coach Glen Fisher yells while celebrating with his players after a 15-10 win over Northwood at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa head coach Glen Fisher yells while celebrating with...

    Costa Mesa head coach Glen Fisher yells while celebrating with his players after a 15-10 win over Northwood at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa quaterback Ben Swanson is congratulated by Christian Villaverde...

    Costa Mesa quaterback Ben Swanson is congratulated by Christian Villaverde as the clock expires during a 15-10 win against Northwood at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa cheerleaders celebrate after Jonathan Brucales scored the game...

    Costa Mesa cheerleaders celebrate after Jonathan Brucales scored the game winning touchdown against Northwood during the fourth quarter at Irvine High School on Friday. Costa Mesa won 15-10.

  • Costa Mesa's Jonathan Brucales runs in the game-winning touchdown during...

    Costa Mesa's Jonathan Brucales runs in the game-winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against Northwood at Irvine High School on Friday. Costa Mesa won 15-10.

  • Costa Mesa's Jonathan Brucales outpaces Northwood's Taylor Cleary to score...

    Costa Mesa's Jonathan Brucales outpaces Northwood's Taylor Cleary to score the game-winning touchdown during the fourth quarter at Irvine High School on Friday. Costa Mesa won 15-10.

  • Northwood's Michael Bellas celebrates after a Northwood scored a go-ahead...

    Northwood's Michael Bellas celebrates after a Northwood scored a go-ahead field goal during the third quarter at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Northwood holder Taylor Cleary and kicker Winston Li celebrate a...

    Northwood holder Taylor Cleary and kicker Winston Li celebrate a go-ahead field goal during the third quarter at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa's Mason Mataafa tackles Northwood's Liam Akiva during the...

    Costa Mesa's Mason Mataafa tackles Northwood's Liam Akiva during the second half at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa's Josh Snipes snags a pass on the Northwood...

    Costa Mesa's Josh Snipes snags a pass on the Northwood 1-yard line setting up a game-tying touchdown as Northwood's Marcus Ferguson-Gracy attempts to cover him during the first half at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Northwood fan Pauline Krepy cheers the closing drive of the...

    Northwood fan Pauline Krepy cheers the closing drive of the first half at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Northwood's Garrett O'Connor comes down with a touchdown pass despite...

    Northwood's Garrett O'Connor comes down with a touchdown pass despite coverage by Costa Mesa's Luke Tsuge during the first half at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa head coach Glen Fisher talks to his team...

    Costa Mesa head coach Glen Fisher talks to his team as they trail by a touchdown during the first half at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa quaterback Ben Swanson passes during the first half...

    Costa Mesa quaterback Ben Swanson passes during the first half of a game against Northwood at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Northwood head coach Dean Toohey and assistant coach Dave Harper...

    Northwood head coach Dean Toohey and assistant coach Dave Harper confer during the first half of a game against Costa Mesa at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Northwood quarterback Trevor Lawrence is sacked by Costa Mesa's Cameron...

    Northwood quarterback Trevor Lawrence is sacked by Costa Mesa's Cameron Curet in the first half at Irvine High.

  • Junior varsity Costa Mesa cheerleaders Alexis Han and Mackenzi Martinez...

    Junior varsity Costa Mesa cheerleaders Alexis Han and Mackenzi Martinez record the varsity squad during the second half of a game against Northwood at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa's Cameron Curet disagrees with a penalty during the...

    Costa Mesa's Cameron Curet disagrees with a penalty during the first half of a game against Northwood at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Costa Mesa cheerleader Nora Vartanian flies during the second half...

    Costa Mesa cheerleader Nora Vartanian flies during the second half against Northwood at Irvine High School on Friday.

  • Northwood players listen to the national anthem before a game...

    Northwood players listen to the national anthem before a game against Costa Mesa at Irvine High School on Friday.

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Tim Burt. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 31, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

IRVINE – Costa Mesa’s football team made quite a statement in its opener Friday night, winning one for new coach Glen Fisher.

The Mustangs stayed around until the end and pulled out a 15-10 nonleague victory over Northwood at Irvine.

Both teams showed signs of rust in the opener. Costa Mesa (1-0) had 11 penalties and Northwood (0-1) had 12.

Fisher, who coached at Beckman the past two years and coached at the same Irvine field a number of times, watched in joy as his players poured onto the field to cap the comeback.

Costa Mesa was 2-8 last year, but showed Friday night it could be a team to be reckoned with.

Mustangs senior Jonathan Brucales capped the comeback by scoring on a 29-yard touchdown run with 4:38 left in the game to put the Mustangs ahead.

Costa Mesa was unable to convert on the 2-point conversion.

Brucales, who rushed for 66 yards, also had a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter.

On their final drive, the Mustangs took over on their own 23-yard line and behind the passing of quarterback Ben Swanson, the running of Brucales and two pass interference penalties was able to get into scoring position.

Northwood quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who passed for 282 yards, tried to lead the Timberwolves back.

Northwood got near midfield but turned the ball over for the fifth time.

The Timberwolves moved ahead, 10-9, on a 37-yard field goal by Winston Li with 3:36 remaining in the third quarter. Costa Mesa opened the third quarter by taking a 9-7 lead on a bizarre play.

On a Northwood punt at the Timberwolves’ 34-yard line, the ball was snapped way over the head of Li, who rather than try and recover the ball, kicked it into the end zone for a safety.

Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com