Garbers sets CdM single-season record with 28 TD passes in win over Irvine

For the second straight week, quarterback Chase Garbers turned in an impressive performance in the first half for Corona del Mar High’s football team.

A week ago, the junior threw four first-half touchdowns. He topped that mark on Thursday, doing so in a record-breaking way.

Garbers threw five first-half touchdowns, giving him 28 on the year to set a CdM single-season record. The Sea Kings didn’t really need Garbers’ services in the second half.

The Sea Kings claimed their fourth straight undefeated Pacific Coast League title with a 58-13 thrashing of Irvine at Jim Scott Stadium.

The regular-season finale was over by halftime, allowing CdM (8-2, 5-0 in league) to rest most of its starters in the second half. The CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoffs start next week, and the No. 3-ranked Sea Kings will need Garbers to make a run at their fourth section crown in five years.

Garbers appears in playoff form, completing 23 of 23 passes for 337 yards. He passed for 18 touchdowns in league play, without throwing an interception.

“Our offensive line gave us a bunch of time,” Garbers said was the reason for his success.

The Sea Kings’ no-huddle offense attacked Irvine all night, keeping the Vaqueros (3-7, 0-5) winless in league for the first time in 10 years.

Even with a 41-7 lead with 46 seconds left before halftime, CdM’s offense kept airing it out. Garbers ended the first half with a 36-yard touchdown pass that broke Brent Lawson’s mark of 27, set four years ago.

Garbers’ final pass went to wideout Peter Bush, who hauled in each of Garbers’ five touchdown passes and finished with eight catches for 149 yards. Bush wound up tying CdM’s single-game record for receiving touchdowns and surpassing the school’s single-season record for receiving touchdowns.

During his senior season, Bush has caught 13 touchdowns, two more than George Sumner did in 1996.

“Our offense is getting pretty hot,” said CdM Coach Dan O’Shea, before adding that the offense will be without right tackle Jake Berkey, who suffered a serious knee injury late in the opening quarter.

Berkey is one of two linemen O’Shea won’t have available in the Sea Kings’ playoff opener. Joe Anderson, who plays defense, was ejected from the game in the second quarter after picking up his second personal foul penalty.

As the score became lopsided, the play on both sides got chippy. The team that tried to deliver the knockout blow at the start was CdM.

The Sea Kings opened the game with an onside kick. The kicker, Jason Neiger, recovered the ball on the Vaqueros’ 49.

What kept the drive alive was Garbers moving the chains on a fourth-and-five play. He completed an 11-yard pass to receiver Jack Blower. A play later, running back Jaydin Moses broke a 33-yard touchdown run to the left and the Sea Kings struck 82 seconds into the contest.

Two fumbles by Irvine set CdM’s next two scores up. The Sea Kings drew up the same play, a two-yard fade in the end zone for Bush and he came up with the ball each time.

The Sea Kings took a 28-0 lead before the first quarter expired. Moses ripped a 45-yard touchdown run, getting a little help from one of the referees, before breaking the run outside and down the sideline.

The run gave Moses more than 100 yards on the ground. The junior finished with 144 yards, needing only eight carries.

While Moses’ evening was done at halftime, Garbers did play in the third quarter. He led CdM on a seven-play, 63-yard drive to open the second half.

Garbers completed three passes, two on consecutive plays to receiver Billy Shaw, who had six catches for 97 yards. Once CdM got inside Irvine’s 10-yard line, Garbers handed the ball to JT Murphy and he rushed for a nine-yard touchdown to help put CdM ahead, 55-7.

The Sea Kings have been unstoppable the past four contests, averaging 50 points per game. They made their 20th win in league look easy, limiting Irvine to 69 yards passing.

The postseason is next for CdM. The Sea Kings learn of their first-round opponent on Sunday, when the section releases the playoff pairings.

“We’re still trying to grow and become a playoff contender,” O’Shea said.

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Corona del Mar 58, Irvine 13

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Irvine 0 – 7 – 0 – 6 — 13

CdM 28 – 20 – 10 – 0 — 58

FIRST QUARTER

CdM – Moses 33 run (Neiger kick), 10:38.

CdM – Bush 2 pass from Garbers (Neiger kick), 5:06.

CdM – Bush 2 pass from Garbers (Neiger kick), 2:13.

CdM – Moses 45 run (Neiger kick), :34.

SECOND QUARTER

Irv – Carter 6 pass from Jackson (Colbert kick), 8:38.

CdM – Bush 54 pass from Garbers (kick failed), 6:53.

CdM – Bush 7 pass from Garbers (Neiger kick), 4:08.

CdM – Bush 36 pass from Garbers (Neiger kick), :13.

THIRD QUARTER

CdM – Murphy 9 run (Neiger kick), 7:48.

CdM – Neiger FG 27, 1:57.

FOURTH QUARTER

I – Garcia 15 run (pass failed), 9:34.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

I – Jackson, 12-76.

CdM – Moses, 8-144, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

I – Carter, 8-14-1, 63.

CdM – Garbers, 23-23-0, 337, 5 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

I – Colbert, 2-37.

CdM – Bush, 8-149, 5 TDs.