High School Football: CdM rolls past Capo
Since Scott Meyer took over as the football coach at Corona del Mar High two years ago, only one opponent has held his team to single-digit points.
Going into Friday night’s game, Meyer was well aware of that team. The Sea Kings played host to that team at Davidson Field.
The Sea Kings came out firing on all cylinders against that team, producing touchdowns on their first four drives. Eighty-eight seconds into the second quarter, that team trailed by its largest margin of the year.
Capistrano Valley was that team and the Sea Kings hammered the Cougars, 43-14. And CdM, playing without star tailback Cole Martin, handed Capistrano Valley its worst setback this year.
Martin, who went into the week as the third leading rusher in Orange County with 650 yards, stood on the sideline with a sprained ankle as CdM rolled up the score on Capistrano Valley (3-2), ranked No. 9 in the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division. The top-ranked team in the Southern Division didn’t need the junior on this evening.
The Sea Kings extended their school-best winning streak to 15 games. Next week, CdM (5-0) is off as it has its bye week. The timing is ideal with Martin injured.
“We have a bye week now, so we can, you know, rest up and get completely healthy heading into [Pacific Coast League play],” said Meyer, who also didn’t have the services of left tackle Quinn Bassler and he expects him to return after he had his tonsils removed last week.
“[Martin’s injury is] nothing serious. He’s just banged up a little bit. I thought it would be a real good week to get Anthony Battista and Hugh Crance going.”
Battista, a shifty sophomore, started and rushed 18 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He and quarterback Luke Napolitano helped CdM wrap up the nonleague portion of the schedule perfect.
In last year’s matchup with Capistrano Valley, CdM only put up seven points. Napolitano got the Sea Kings their first touchdown 6 1/2 minutes into the game, on his first of two rushing touchdowns.
Napolitano also completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cole Collins before the opening quarter ended. The Sea Kings led, 20-7.
They tacked on another seven points early in the second quarter, thanks to defensive end Parker Chase.
The junior came up with his second turnover in the first half, leaping to intercept a pass near midfield. He took off to the left, hoping to find the end zone. Chase almost made it, but quarterback Matthew Gordon took him down on the five-yard line.
There would be no second end zone dance by Chase, who in the second game of the season returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown. Back then, he celebrated by spiking the ball between his legs and pounding the field with his fist.
The team let Battista do the pounding on the next play. He rushed for a five-yard touchdown.
Battista wasn’t the only offensive player to benefit because of great field position.
Chase, who recovered a fumble late in the first quarter, also forced a fumble in the third quarter after finally getting to the elusive quarterback. He sacked Gordon and forced a fumble with 8:21 left in the third. Mat Flores recovered the ball, setting up CdM on the opponent’s 12.
Three plays later, Napolitano connected with Collins for a second touchdown pass. This one went for seven yards, giving Collins four catches for 73 yards and CdM a 43-7 lead.
With a running clock to start the fourth quarter, because CdM led by more than 35 points, it appeared Capistrano Valley was on its way to its worst loss in three years. The Cougars fought for one more score and it cost them their top receiver, Adam Gordon.
He was ejected from the game after his brother converted a first down on a fourth-and-seven run 2 1/2 minutes into the fourth quarter. Coach Ernst Bucher said he pulled his quarterback after the incident. The Cougars lost their senior, who rushed for 70 yards and threw for 147 yards and one touchdown.
“There was no need for that unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and at that point, he’s done,” Bucher said.
“I know their starting tailback didn’t play, but their backup gave us all we could handle. [CdM is] a very complete team.”
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Corona del Mar 43, Capistrano Valley 14
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Capo Valley 7 - 0 - 0 - 7 – 14
CdM 20 - 9 - 14 - 0 – 43
FIRST QUARTER
CV – O’Shea 70 pass from M. Gordon (A. Gordon kick), 9:03.
CdM – Napolitano 2 run (Boyse kick), 6:38.
CdM – Napolitano 15 run (Boyse kick), 4:08.
CdM – Collins 26 pass from Napolitano (kick failed), :27.
SECOND QUARTER
CdM – Battista 5 run (Boyse kick), 10:22.
CdM – Carters tackles quarterback in end zone for safety, :48.
THIRD QUARTER
CdM – Battista 1 run (Boyse kick), 8:30.
CdM – Collins 7 pass from Napolitano (Boyse kick), 7:23.
FOURTH QUARTER
CV – Waggoner 6 run (Campanile kick), :37.
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING
CV – M. Gordon, 21-70.
CdM – Battista, 18-153, 2 TDs.
INDIVIDUAL PASSING
CV – M. Gordon, 12-22-1, 147, 1 TD.
CdM – Napolitano, 6-16-0, 115, 2 TDs.
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING
CV – Muusse, 8-61.
CdM – Collins, 4-73, 2 TDs.