CdM muscles into CIF

Sea Kings pound University with 436 rushing yards to earn Pacific Coast League’s third playoff berth.IRVINE -- Perhaps it was fitting that the combined rushing yardage total produced by Corona del Mar High tag-team tailbacks Matt Loyd and Dio Johnson was 405.

Because with a dominant performance by the Sea Kings’ offensive line, the Irvine High football field resembled a freeway Friday night against Pacific Coast League host University.

The result was an impressive 47-17 triumph for Corona del Mar, which joined the Trojans in a tie for third place in league. Since CdM has the head-to-head tiebreaker, the Sea Kings collected the league’s third guaranteed berth in the CIF Southern Section Division IX playoffs that open next week.

A loss would have ended the Sea Kings’ season. But Coach Dick Freeman’s squad (5-5, 3-3 in league), ranked No. 7 in CIF Division IX, left little chance of that. Corona del Mar scored touchdowns on its first five possessions to douse any hint of suspense on the Trojans’ homecoming.

With almost flawless execution on offense, something the Sea Kings had struggled to consistently achieve through nine games, CdM rolled up 501 yards of total offense and 23 first downs.

No fewer than 20 of those first downs came on the ground, as the swifter, nimbler Loyd and the bigger, more powerful Johnson darted and drove through frequent and expansive holes.

Loyd, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior, finished with 232 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.

Johnson, a 6-4, 230-pound junior, added 173 yards and two touchdowns on 15 attempts, including a 71-yard scoring sprint on the Sea Kings’ final offensive play with 10 seconds left in the game.

Their path was paved by tackles John Fairbanks and John Joyce, a guard rotation of Arion Lapuz, James McKennon and Kevin Rask, center Steven Dean and tight end Avery Fenton.

David Yi and Matt Burgner also blocked well at fullback, while receivers Steve Hillgren, Charlie Albright, Hunt Rychel, Shaun Mohler and Ali Meshkin helped create added running room downfield.

“It was good to see,” Freeman said of the bulldozing ground attack, which proved a tough matchup for a University squad that has struggled to stop the run all season.

“We have a nose guard who is 135 pounds, and we only have one guy who weighs more than 200 on our defensive line,” University Coach Mark Cunningham said. “When you have matchups like that, you better be quick, strong and aggressive, or you’re going to get blown off the ball. And [the latter] is what happened.”

University (5-5, 3-3) is eligible for the division’s lone at-large berth, which will be announced along with playoff pairings Sunday. But Cunningham wasn’t in much of a mood to consider his postseason chances.

“When you lose, 47-17, to the third place team ... ,” Cunningham said.

It was 13-0 after the first quarter, as Loyd capped a seven-play, 65-yard CdM drive with a 3-yard run and Johnson bolted 32 yards to finish a six-play, 63-yard procession. The latter drive was set up by Loyd’s pass interception at his own 28-yard line.

After University’s Louis Feinstein made a 34-yard field goal, the Trojans appeared to force the Sea Kings to punt. But the Trojans were flagged for too many men on the field on the would-be punt and the 5-yard penalty gave Corona del Mar just enough for a first down.

Two plays later, Loyd burst 76 yards off tackle for a touchdown. Charlie Albright added the conversion kick and it was 21-3.

The Sea Kings drove 69 yards on seven plays with its final first-half possession. Loyd did the honors from 2 yards out to finalize the 27-3 halftime score.

CdM picked up where it left off after fielding the second-half kickoff. The visitors went 65 yards on five plays, with Mohler connecting with Hillgren on a 30-yard scoring pass to effectively end the game with 9:27 left in the third quarter.

Hillgren fielded a short toss near the line of scrimmage on the play and broke two tackles on his way to the end zone.

Mohler, who alternated at quarterback with Colin Wigley, threw 15 yards to Fenton over the middle for another touchdown with 3:41 left in the game. The Fenton touchdown reception capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive that added an exclamation point to the Sea Kings’ offensive prowess.

“The offense finally had a good game,” Mohler said of the convincing win. “I think we needed a big boost going into the playoffs. We don’t know who we’ll play, but it’s going to be a tough game.”

The Sea Kings’ second straight trip to the postseason figures to be a first-round road date, most likely against a league champion.

But Freeman said his team may now have the confidence to succeed in the playoffs.

When asked if his team could beat a first-place team next week, Freeman smiled and nodded his head.

Albright added an interception for Corona del Mar, which also received sacks from Burgner and Keaten Price.

It was the 36th sack of Burgner’s three-year varsity career, extending his own school record.

In addition to the aforementioned defensive standouts, tackle Taylor Peselk, linebackers Mike Gratzinger, Andrew Williamson, Yi, Ford Noe and Erik Rask helped limit the Trojans to 48 rushing yards on 20 attempts.

University quarterback Steve Crooks threw for 248 yards, completing 15 of 24 passes.

“We didn’t play very well on defense and, on offense, we made some stupid mistakes,” Cunningham said. “We moved the ball OK, but we couldn’t overcome some mistakes.”

Hillgren finished with two catches for 38 yards as the two Corona del Mar quarterbacks combined to complete 5 of 7 passes for 65 yards.

Mohler, was 4 of 5 passing for 53 yards and two touchdowns.

Mohler also stood out on special teams. He averaged 41 yards on three punts, including one of 46 yards.

University scored on a 54-yard Crooks bomb to Lavelle Nappier on its first offensive play of the final period.

The 47 points were the most in one game for CdM since 2002.

CORONA DEL MAR 47, UNIVERSITY 17

SCORE BY QUARTERS