Sea Kings rally past Spartans

NEWPORT BEACH — Criss Angel and David Copperfield have nothing on the Corona del Mar High football team.

As is often the case with the famous illusionists, little is as it appears when the scrappy Sea Kings take the field.

Smaller, fewer and typically less experienced than their opponents — as was the case Friday night against nonleague foe Villa Park — the Sea Kings somehow proved the slight could indeed come away with the upper hand.

After somehow managing a 7-7 halftime stalemate, despite, most would say, losing the physical battle and giving away a significant statistical advantage, CdM fell behind, 10-7, with 1:19 left in the third quarter at Newport Harbor High.

But the hosts kept plugging and, more importantly, kept popping with their headgear, shoulder pads and, it seemed at times, sheer collective will.

The result was a dramatic rally and a 21-10 triumph that could go a long way toward establishing this team (4-2), ranked No. 4 in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division, as at least a Pacific Coast League title contender.

“[The Sea Kings] hung in there,” said Villa Park Coach Pat Mahoney, whose team (2-3), at several points, appeared capable of taking command of the game.

CdM Coach Dick Freeman was more to the point.

“I think we wore them down,” said Freeman, who doubles as the defensive coordinator for a unit that spent more than 35 of the game’s 48 minutes on the field.

Defensive heroes were numerous for CdM, but all candidates should fall in line behind 5-foot-7, 155-pound outside linebacker Tom Folks.

Folks, whom Freeman said earlier in the week was one of the best linebackers CdM has had in his 11 seasons at the helm, made the two defining defensive plays of the final quarter to help set up the victory.

First, Folks’ penetration helped blow up a toss play on fourth-and-one at the Sea Kings’ 18. Folks knocked the lead blocker backward, into tailback Steven Munoz, who stumbled after contact and came up short of the first down, giving CdM possession.

On the next snap, junior quarterback Hunter Alder, who played the whole game in place of senior star Taylor Hughes (sore throwing shoulder), flipped a pass to senior Steven Hillgren in the right flat.

Hillgren, who celebrated his 18th birthday with a stellar all-around performance, took advantage of a pair of seal blocks that opened up a pathway to the end zone for an 82-yard pitch and catch.

Charlie Albright kicked the conversion to give CdM its first lead, 14-10.

But the Sea Kings weren’t done yet.

Folks recovered a fumble at the CdM 36-yard line to halt Villa Park’s ensuing possession.

Two plays later, junior Erik Rask, who as a conspicuous member of the Sea Kings’ relentless five-man linebacking crew had a right to be spent, instead broke two tackles, dodged a couple more and bolted 53 yards for a clinching touchdown with 2:09 left in the game.

Rask finished with a team-best 71 rushing yards on four carries, while Alder had 147 passing yards, completing eight of 19.

Hillgren led seven CdM receivers with three catches for 94 yards. But it wasn’t the offense that stood out.

The defense, which in addition to Rask and Folks included linebackers Ford Noe, Austin Ray and Kevin Rask, corners Hillgren and Mitch Sands, safety Albright, ends Stephen Deverian and Ben Noe, as well as noseguard Dan DiChiro, endured and overcame.

The Spartans produced 251 rushing yards on 62 attempts, with Munoz carrying 34 times for 191 yards and a touchdown.

Villa Park quarterback Andrew O’Donnell completed 14 of 24 for 150 yards to help the Spartans collect 25 first downs.

“We couldn’t stop them in the first half,” Folks said. “But, at halftime, we said we knew we could stop them.”

Hillgren added an interception, the 15th of his career, giving him sole possession of the school career record.