Reading helped Hillgren become a prolific thief

Hillgren Pilot Football Playr of Week featureCdM junior standout’s four picks against Laguna Beach were a new school record.For Corona del Mar High football standout Steve Hillgren, a quarterback’s eyes are the windows to his spiral.

Hillgren, a junior cornerback, receiver and punt returner for the Sea Kings, used this belief to intercept four passes to key a 27-0 Pacific Coast League victory over Laguna Beach on Oct. 20 at Newport Harbor High.

The four picks, one of which he returned 27 yards for a touchdown, set a school single-game record. They also gave the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Hillgren nine interceptions for the season, two shy of Warren Johnson’s school single-season record.

Hillgren also leads the team with 16 receptions for 286 yards and three touchdowns. But with nearly as many catches from the opposing team’s quarterbacks as the Corona del Mar passers, he said the secondary has become his favorite place to be on game night.

“I thought I’d be more of an offensive player coming into this season,” Hillgren said. “I knew I’d be playing on defense, but I didn’t expect all this. I just thought I loved playing receiver more, but now I kind of like defensive back.”

Hillgren said playing receiver helps his decision-making at cornerback. But when he drops in zone coverage, the primary scheme for the Sea Kings, he is focused solely on the quarterback.

“I’m just watching the quarterback’s eyes,” Hillgren said. “I’m really not even paying attention to the receiver.”

Hillgren said he is aware of the receivers in his area, but the key to his positioning is dictated by the passer’s line of sight.

“It looks like you can beat him, but he gets himself in the right spot,” said Sea Kings Coach Dick Freeman, also the team’s defensive coordinator. “He stays deep and he drives on the ball. And when he does get a chance to make a play on the ball, he catches everything. He has great hands.”

Freeman said he considers Hillgren, who plays on the school’s golf team, a great athlete. Hillgren, however, said he has modest speed and is anything but physically imposing.

Freeman said some intangibles have allowed Hillgren to become one of the team’s most productive players.

“He works really hard, practices hard and does everything you want,” Freeman said.

Hillgren said he wants quarterbacks to keep looking his way, which happened with surprising frequency against Laguna Beach.

Hillgren’s first interception came in his own end zone early in the second quarter. It halted what turned out to be the Breakers’ deepest penetration.

His second interception came on the next snap after his 35-yard interception return for a touchdown was nullified by a penalty.

On the first play after the Sea Kings took a 14-0 lead late in the third quarter, Hillgren snatched a Laguna Beach pass and sprinted into the end zone for a touchdown.

Hillgren ended the Breakers’ next possession with an interception at the Corona del Mar 21-yard line.

“I guess I was in a groove,” Hillgren said. “It was kind of fun to see the quarterback dropping back and looking toward my side. When I saw that, I figured he was throwing over there, so I just tried to get into position.”

20051027iozjvdknMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)