Clear win for CdM

Barry Faulkner

The Corona del Mar High football team emerged out of the dense fog

and hearty challenge presented by Calvary Chapel Friday night,

earning a 24-7 Pacific Coast victory at Newport Harbor High.

Now, comes even murkier matters, as the Sea Kings close their

league campaign against the powerful trio of Northwood (Thursday),

Tesoro (Nov. 7) and University (Nov. 14).

Northwood, the defending league champion, entered the week ranked

No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division IX, while University (No. 5)

and Tesoro (No. 8) figure to roughly switch places in the poll after

the Titans upset the Trojans, 33-20, Thursday night.

And while his Sea Kings (5-2, 2-0 in league) earned their second

straight win in somewhat convincing fashion, CdM Coach Dick Freeman

was less than sunny about what he deemed too many miscues.

“I would have liked for us not to have made the big mistakes we

made tonight,” said Freeman, who saw his team lose one fumble, muff a

punt that helped Calvary (1-4-2, 0-2) produce its only touchdown,

throw one interception and commit two unsportsmanlike conduct

penalties, both by the same inside linebacker, who, by rule, will

have to sit out a one-game suspension against Northwood.

What’s more, the Sea Kings appeared confused, at times,

offensively, most notably in regard to substitutions.

But through it all, including a thick fog that worsened most of

the game, until spectators on the home sideline could not see the

down marker on the other side of the field, the Sea Kings did enough

to remain in the postseason picture.

The hosts displayed championship-caliber execution on the first

series of the game, going 68 yards on three plays to produce a 7-0

lead.

Junior receiver Kevin Welch snatched a deep pass between two

defenders for a 41-yard pickup on the first snap (after Calvary was

called for encroachment).

Junior tailback Wess Presson then bounced 17 yards to the 5 and

carried into the end zone on the next play. The first of three

conversion kicks by David Del Fante, who later booted a 33-yard field

goal, gave CdM the lead for good just 59 seconds into the contest.

Del Fante triggered the second touchdown drive, intercepting a

pass and returning it 17 yards to the Calvary 32-yard line midway

through the second quarter.

Nine plays later, Presson, who carried six times on the

possession, banged over the left side for a 2-yard scoring run with

45 seconds left before halftime.

Presson finished with 92 yards on 19 carries, but sat out the

final quarter with an ice bag on his left shoulder, having sustained

what Freeman later called a stinger.

Del Fante’s field goal cashed in the first of two blocked punts by

sophomore Matt Burgner. Burgner’s first block gave the Sea Kings

possession at the Calvary 25. They advanced to the 2 before an

unsportsmanlike penalty backed them up and stalled the drive.

A muffed punt extended the Eagles’ ensuing possession, capped when

fullback Sean Young plowed over from 1 yard out on fourth down to

foil what had been a CdM goal-line stand.

The Sea Kings answered, however, reeling off nine straight running

plays before Tom Welch connected on a 15-yard fade with Kevin Welch

for a touchdown with 11:53 left in the game.

Sophomore reserves David Yi and Colin Wigely had fourth-quarter

interceptions and the Eagles, coached by former CdM offensive

coordinator Lyle Lansdell, also coughed up a late fumble to help the

Sea Kings protect their lead.

Freeman was complimentary toward Calvary, which also received

strong praise from Lansdell.

“For little church boys, we bring plastic,” Lansdell said.

Senior Garet Brietfuss personified Calvary’s toughness, pounding

for a game-high 116 rushing yards on 27 carries.