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Read more Orange County football season stat leaders, Oct. 27
One lesson from University football coach Vince Mesa’s journey stands out the most this week as he leads the Trojans into arguably their biggest game in almost 20 years.
Consistent, hard work pays off.
After traversing a diverse route through Bakersfield, Huntington Beach, North Dakota, Anaheim and Oslo, Norway, Mesa has rebuilt the Trojans’ program since being hired in 2021.
University (6-3, 4-0), which has qualified for the CIF Southern Section playoffs for the first time since 2015, plays host to Los Amigos (8-1, 4-0) on Friday for the Omicron League championship.
The Trojans snapped the longest active playoff drought in the county last week by defeating Buena Park 34-13. Now, they’re seeking their first league title since 2007 when they won the Pacific Coast League title.
“At the end of the day, it’s just putting in the work,” Mesa said. “I kind of knew that we were going to do well this year because of the work the players put in this year as a whole. They’ve bought in.”
“It did not come easy,” the walk-on coach added. “None of this stuff did. I’m just enjoying it.”
Last season, University finished 4-6 overall and 2-3 in league.
The Trojans tied Woodbridge and Buena Park for third place in league and lost a coin flip for the league’s final automatic playoff berth.
University also finished 4-6 in 2023 and 2024, 3-7 in 2022 and 2-8 in 2021.
Mesa, 48, arrived at University with unique qualifications for a rebuild.
He coached running backs at Orange Coast College. He served as an assistant coach at Magnolia during its turnaround season in 2010. And he successfully coached youth and adults with the Norway Vikings in Oslo, Norway. That program sprung from the NFL’s developmental league in Europe, Mesa said.
“I’ve been all over,” Mesa said. “I was coaching at Magnolia and the Vikings at the same time.”
Mesa honed his skills at each stop.
He has also assembled a strong coaching staff at University. The staff includes former Orange Coast College assistant coaches Alex Cervantes and Ryan Pizzo, who played at Woodbridge.
Mesa added both coaches after the Pirates placed their program on hold this fall.
University’s staff also features defensive coordinator Randall Noji, offensive line coach Chidi Okeke (a former professional player), Kyle Olson and freshman coach Aaron Craver, the former Woodbridge head coach.
Mesa’s strategies include building a youth feeder team through the 4 Vert passing program.
Balancing football and rigorous academics also is part of the winning formula at University.
Mesa credits his players for that.
“It’s gotten a lot better where they’ve dedicated more to practice and football,” said Mesa, who teaches sound design for film and television at Orange Coast College. “(The players) are understanding now that you can do both — academics and football — and be good at both.”
Mesa coordinates University’s pistol offense, which averages a league-high 28.4 points per game.
Quarterback Dylan Elmer has passed for 1,574 yards and 20 touchdowns. The senior has set the school record for career touchdown passes with 43.
Elmer’s top target is wide receiver Moises Keith-Chavez. The former Woodbridge player has 43 receptions for 1,005 yards and 13 TDs.
Senior Deandre Miller has rushed for 617 yards in his first year as a running back. He is also second on the team in tackles (66).
The offensive line has performed well, Mesa added. The group includes two-way lineman Malek Abdelazim, a junior.
Linebacker Aidan Guzman leads a multi-front defense with 71 total tackles. The junior distinguished himself on special teams last fall and continues to improve, Mesa said.
Juniors Charlie Carmichael and Trevor Pattock have combined for five interceptions. Pattock has returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
Defensive end Marco Pablo Tirado leads the team in sacks with five.
The Trojans are focused on Los Amigos this week but hope to make a playoff run no matter the outcome.
Los Amigos has won eight consecutive games after a season-opening loss to St. Bernard 20-14.
“If we win Friday, we’ll probably jump to (Division) 12 and if we don’t get it done, it’s looking like we’ll end up in (Division) 13,” Mesa said. “Winning is contagious and (we) just want more and more.”
LEAGUE TITLES ON THE LINE
There are three other games Friday between teams with undefeated league records.
They are San Juan Hills (8-1, 4-0) at Mission Viejo (7-1, 3-0) in the Alpha League. Trabuco Hills (7-2, 4-0) at Newport Harbor (7-2, 4-0) in the Epsilon League. Rancho Alamitos (9-0, 4-0) at Ocean View (8-1, 4-0) in the Sigma League.
Rancho Alamitos, Santa Margarita, Huntington Beach and Orange are the county’s remaining undefeated teams with 9-0 records.
SHORT ROUTES
The CIF-SS playoff pairings will be released Sunday at 10 a.m. …
Canyon wide receiver Noah McClary suffered a broken arm Saturday against Portola, Comanches coach Vinnie Lopez confirmed. The senior has 198 career receptions for 2,909 yards. …
Westminster will play host to the 8-man championship games in Division 1 and Division 2 on Nov. 28.
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