Playoff ticket is on the line for CdM

CdM football preview vs. UniversitySea Kings battle University for third place in Pacific Coast League.Before the football season began, most Pacific Coast League observers believed the regular-season finale between Corona del Mar High and University would likely decide third place.

Nothing has changed heading into tonight’s showdown at 7 at Irvine High.

“Our playoffs start this week,” said Corona del Mar Coach Dick Freeman, whose team enters the game ranked No. 7 in CIF Southern Section Division IX.

The Sea Kings (4-5, 2-3 in league) can secure a guaranteed CIF playoff berth with a victory. A loss would make them an extreme longshot to claim the division’s lone at-large berth. At 4-6, they would not be considered unless there were no at-large candidates from the division’s four other leagues with a .500 record.

Unranked University (5-4, 3-2) is coming off a dramatic triumph Friday against Laguna Beach. Louis Feinstein kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired for a 16-14 victory.

CdM defeated Laguna Beach, 27-0, on Oct. 20.

The Sea Kings have relied on their defense this season, while Coach Mark Cunningham’s Trojans have been led by their offense.

University has been outscored, 236-230, this season. Conversely, CdM has outscored its opponents, 203-130.

Freeman said he believes his team’s fate may depend on the collective psyche of his players.

“If we’ve gone into a game with confidence that we can do it, we’ve gone out and done it,” Freeman said. “But if we go in worrying about whether or not we can do it, we haven’t done it at all.”

The Sea Kings’ defense is led by senior linebacker Shaun Mohler, senior ends Matt Burgner and John Fairbanks, and junior cornerback Steve Hillgren.

Mohler leads the team in tackles, Burgner owns the school career record with 35 sacks, and Hillgren has 10 interceptions this fall, one shy of the school single-season mark.

University’s offense is led by versatile senior running back Colin Mease and senior quarterback Steve Crooks.

Mease has 681 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and has also caught 18 passes for 281 yards and seven touchdowns.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Crooks has thrown for 1,047 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has completed 70 of 144 passes with five interceptions.

Corona del Mar’s offense is led by senior tailback Matt Loyd, who has 862 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 113 attempts.

Senior Colin Wigley has completed 31 of 60 passes for 396 yards and four touchdowns. He has thrown two interceptions.