Muir was penalized 18 teams in its season opener against San Gabriel. At the time, Mustangs coach Ken Howard said he wasn’t concerned.

Muir beat Saugus 27-9 last week, but again was penalized 18 times.

“I’ll give you about 15 this week and we’ll keep working at it,” quipped Howard. “I didn’t complain in the first game because it’s our first game. No excuses to have that many in the second game.

“I can blame officiating and I can blame bad calls, but they’re learning just like we’re learning. We’re going to try to get a quick fix on it.”

Muir on Friday hosts powerhouse Rancho Cucamonga, the No. 5 team out of the very tough Inland Division.

SPECIAL APPEARANCE

Brandon Jackson’s family attended its first Muir football game since Jackson was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in February.

Jackson was a fullback/linebacker who was gunned down as he was walking hom from a friend’s party in Altadena. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest in Jackson’s killing.

Howard said the family sat near the 50-yard line . Also making an apperance at school was cornerback Tyqwan Glass, who suffered a season-ending injury during practice last week. Glass, who recorded two interceptions that set up scoring drives in the season opener, was considered the team’s top cornerback.

“We had some energy given to us seeing Brandon Jackson’s family and Glass at the game,” Howard said. “The family came to their first game and Glass came to see the team at school after he got out of the hospital. That fires us up. The ups and downs we’ve had has turned into a blessing.”