Prep column: CdM cookies don’t crumble

Barry Faulkner

One could point to a rejuvenated offense, a comparative break in

the schedule or the cumulative hard work of those involved in a program

destined for success. But there are those who believe the Corona del Mar

High football team’s four-game winning streak began in Coach Dick

Freeman’s kitchen.

Kathie Freeman, Dick’s wife, in an attempt to lift the spirits of a

coaching staff sapped by an 0-3 start, whipped up some chocolate chip

cookies for the coaches to enjoy prior to the Sept. 28 nonleague clash

with Saddleback.

After a 38-35 Sea Kings victory, she has continued to deliver the

goods, satisfying the coaches’ sweet toothes, as well as their

superstitious beliefs.

“She did it once before, I think in the 1998 season,” Freeman said.

“She holds off, until we aren’t doing real well, then she steps in with

some chocolate chip cookies. Hey, whatever works, right?”

A weekly ritual has blossomed around the tasty treats, which sit in

Freeman’s car during the school day, warming and softening, until their

pre-practice delivery. The serving specifications have also become

painstakingly precise, as not to upset the

preternatural powers that be.

“We have to set them on the same spot on each coach’s desk and each

coach gets the same number of cookies each week,” Freeman said.

The four-game winning streak, bettered only once since the Sea Kings’

back-to-back CIF Southern Section championships in 1988-89 (the ’98 squad

won five straight) has included some impressive productivity.

CdM has totaled 169 points during the string, the victims of which

also include Westminster, 38-15, Costa Mesa, 37-7, and Northwood, 56-27.

This is not only the best scoring output in any four-game stretch in the

program’s 39 varsity seasons, but is enough to better the season scoring

totals of 25 Sea King squads, including playoff entries in 1976, ‘77,

‘80, ’87 and ’99.

Including the losses to Cypress, Pomona and Newport Harbor, the Sea

Kings’ 206 points rank eighth in CdM single-season history, with at least

three games remaining. The 1995 CIF Division V semifinalist holds the

record with 366 points, followed by the 292 points put up by the 1988 CIF

champions.

The Sea Kings have done most of their damage during the streak on the

ground (more than 66% of their 1,586 yards and 15 of 23 TDs via the rush)

and senior tailback Blake Hacker has amassed 867 rushing yards and six

TDs in that time.

Hacker’s 289 yards Thursday against Northwood set a school single-game

record and also pushed him past the 1,000-yard plateau (1,033).

Along with Newport Harbor senior Chris Manderino, who also surpassed

the four-figure mark last week and now has 1,068 yards, Newport-Mesa

schools have produced at least one 1,000-yard-plus rusher the last 10

seasons and 15 of the last 16. During that stretch, Costa Mesa has had 10

runners break the barrier, followed by eight from Newport Harbor, seven

from CdM and five from Estancia.

Last season, with Andre Stewart (Harbor), C.J. Zuniga (Mesa), Marshall

Hendricks (Estancia) and Grant Estabrook (CdM), was the first time all

four schools produced a 1,000-yard rusher.

Keola Asuega (Mesa), as well as Estancia’s Andy Romo and Fahad Jahid

are right around the 600-yard mark this fall.

The CIF Southern Section Council’s decision last week to limit schools

participating in each section basketball playoff division to 60, may wind

up benefiting Newport Harbor’s boys program.

Though divisional enrollment breakdowns won’t come out until some time

next month, Sailors Coach Larry Hirst believes the Tars could move up

from Division II-AA to the smallest of what should be three Division I

classifications.

If things fall right, the Tars may land in a division that does not

include perennial powers Dominguez (II-AA last year), Long Beach Poly

(I-AA last season) and Mater Dei (I-A on 1999-2000).

In other news involving the CIF boys and girls basketball playoffs,

Southern Section Assistant Commissioner Paul Castillo, who administrates

basketball for the section, said last year’s 10-win minimum to qualify

for the playoffs has been upped to 11 this season.