Prep footbal: Movin’ on up

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Corona del Mar High football coach Dick Freeman

could be compared to a linesman this week, as his Sea Kings prepare to

host Troy Friday at 7 p.m. at Newport Harbor High. The main thing he’s

looking for is forward progress.

“We just need to improve,� said Freeman, whose squad got better as the

game went along in last week’s season opener, rallying with 28

fourth-quarter points to claim a 42-17 triumph over Cypress.

The Sea Kings, ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division IX, will

try to keep it rolling against a Troy unit that has plenty of momentum of

its own.

The Warriors, coached for the 17th season by John Turek, trounced San

Dimas, 35-0, to open their 2001 campaign.

“Troy has a good program,� said Freeman, also the Sea Kings’ defensive

coordinator, who is well-versed in preparing for the wing T that Turek

utilizes.

“We have quite a few teams in our league who have run something like

that the last few years, so we have some experience against it,� Freeman

said. “That offense is something you don’t want to have to prepare for

just once a year.�

Troy’s ground attack was paced by senior Jordan McCarthy against San

Dimas. He gained 100 yards on 15 carries. Senior fullback Will Otto

scored three touchdowns, while a third back picked up 87 yards on seven

carries.

In addition, junior quarterback Jon Salazar threw for 104 yards,

completing 7 of 10. His favorite receiver was junior Jeremy Arbiso, who

gained 77 yards on four receptions.

The Warrior defense, however, may have been the biggest key. Led by

Mark Power’s two interceptions, Troy produced four turnovers, three of

which led to touchdowns, en route to its third shutout in the school’s

last nine games.

“(The Warriors) appear to be very physical,� Freeman said. “They

knocked San Dimas around.�

CdM knocked Cypress from the No. 4 ranking in CIF Division VI to the

No. 10 spot, rolling up most of its 331 offensive yards on the ground.

CdM junior tailbacks Mark Cianciulli (145 yards and two TDs on 18

carries) and Keith Long (60 yards and two TDs on 10 carries) were the

primary beneficiaries of an offensive line that includes returning

second-team All-Pacific Coast League performers Steven Russell and John

Daley. First-year offensive line starters Matt Elliston, John Hayes and

Steve Shipman also blocked well, as did senior tight end Tyler McClellan.

Senior quarterback Dylan Hendy threw for 80 yards, completing 6 of 11.

The Sea Kings, however, threw two interceptions and had three turnovers.

Long, who sat out last season, led four CdM receivers with three

catches for 30 yards.

The 42 points tied a CdM record for openers, established in 1995.

The Sea Kings were paced defensively last week by junior tackle Jayson

Skalla, while K.C. Rawlins, Kris Cooper and Steven Ward had

interceptions. Ward returned his pick 95 yards for a touchdown to cap a

35-0 second-half onslaught.

CdM is gunning for its first 2-0 start since 1996, while Troy has not

opened with consecutive wins since 1994.

It’s the first regular-season meeting between the schools, who met in

back-to-back first-round CIF playoff games in 1987-88, both won by the

Sea Kings.