Record not lost on Sea Kings

FULLERTON — Being on a football team considered better than its record was not one of Steven Hillgren’s goals before the season.

But it is one positive Hillgren and his Corona del Mar High teammates can take from the 34-24 loss to Troy at Fullerton High Friday night, which dropped the Sea Kings to 1-2 on the season. The Sea Kings last two games have come against unbeaten opponents and in both Corona del Mar had an opportunity to win.

Hillgren contributed 126 yards receiving and a touchdown to go with an interception.

“I thought we fought hard, but we didn’t come here to lose,” Hillgren said. “I don’t think our record represents how good we are.”

Keeping the Sea Kings from their preseason goals was Troy tailback Derrick Coleman who ran 28 times for 231 yards and three touchdowns. Coleman combined a skill set of power and speed Corona del Mar had yet to see this season. Troy’s Chris Ramirez chipped in 113 yards and two touchdowns.

“Two many horses not enough stables,” Corona del Mar Coach Dick Freeman said. “You just can’t load up on them. They can run the option, they can power-run and they can pass. Those are three things you have to stop. You can’t single up on them.”

The beginning of the game proved prophetic. The Sea Kings ate up nearly five minutes in the opening drive, but stalled near midfield. Troy countered by going 73 yards on its first play from scrimmage to take a 7-0 lead.

CdM appeared to tie the game on the following drive when Hunt Rychel took a pass to the goal line but when Rychel was hit at the line the ball came loose and it was ruled a fumble. Rychel lay on the ground for 20 minutes before being carried off in a stretcher.

Freeman said there was no serious damage to Rychel.

“He took a shot to the face and got knocked out,” Hillgren said. “We thought the ball crossed the goal line.”

The Sea Kings came back and forced a three-and-out before tying the game on one of many wild plays for Corona del Mar. Quarterback Taylor Hughes, who threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns, scrambled right and was surrounded by three Troy defenders. Hughes wiggled free and hit Max Haase, who was alone in the corner of the end zone.

“I looked back and I didn’t see him,” Haase said. “I knew he could get out of it because he’s good.”

Hughes was also his most efficient this season, completing 15 of 24 passes. But the combination of Coleman and Ramirez kept rolling and Troy took back the lead, 14-7.

As Troy tried to tack on points in the waning minutes of half, Hillgren made a play to swing the momentum. He intercepted Tyler Swaney’s pass and returned it 28 yard to set up a 30-yard field goal by Charlie Albright to cut the lead to 14-10 half.

“When we watched film on him, whenever he rolls right to his cousin [Joshua Swaney] he throws an out pattern,” Hillgren said.

Hillgren kept the Sea Kings in the game with a 40-yard fourth-quarter touchdown reception. He alluded a trio of defenders to cut the lead to 34-24 with 6:42 left.

“I just kept spinning and kept my legs moving,” Hillgren said.