Downey knocks Corona del Mar out in CIF football quarterfinals

One week removed from delivering perhaps the most thrilling comeback of the 2017 CIF Southern Section playoffs, the Corona del Mar High football team found itself in position to create a little more postseason magic on Friday.

Unfortunately for the Sea Kings, there was no one-handed, highlight-reel grab to push them to victory, as senior receiver TaeVeon Le provided in last week’s 42-35 win over Eastvale Roosevelt in the waning seconds.

Instead, the CdM season came to an end as a Hail Mary heave from senior quarterback Nathaniel Espinoza was intercepted at the goal line by Downey.

The visiting Vikings held on for a 49-42 win against the No. 4-seeded Sea Kings in a Division 4 quarterfinal game at Newport Harbor High.

The loss ended an impressive campaign for the Sea Kings, who finished 10-2 with their sixth straight undefeated Pacific Coast League title. But they won’t be returning to a second straight Division 4 final.

“After last year we turned the page and challenged the seniors to carry their leadership for this program,” CdM coach Dan O’Shea said. “Not for themselves, but for the program and their brother in it. I’m so incredibly proud of the leadership and camaraderie they had as a team.”

Six plays from scrimmage into Friday night’s quarterfinal showdown, the seeds were planted for a postseason classic.

Three plays after Downey (10-2) took a touchback on the opening kick, junior quarterback Kijjon Foots went to his favorite target. He found two-way standout Christopher Atkins streaking past the CdM secondary for a 68-yard touchdown connection.

It was the first of four touchdown connections for the duo, whose chemistry was the undoubted difference in a game that came down to the final snap. Foots completed 18 of 25 passes for 266 yards and five touchdowns.

“He doesn’t look as fast on film, but then you get in the game and he’s gone,” Downey coach Jack Williams said of Atkins, who hauled in 10 receptions for 199 yards. “I thought their chemistry today was the best we’ve had all year, but that’s just on their part, spending extra time after practice together.”

The Sea Kings wasted no time answering back, however.

A 72-yard bomb from Espinoza to Le brought the offense from its own 16 to the Vikings’ 12. Two plays later, Espinoza found receiver John Humphreys on a jump-ball in the end zone for a seven-yard score.

Espinoza threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns, with three interceptions. He also ran for three touchdowns.

The early moments foreshadowed a back-and-forth contest to come, featuring five lead changes and four ties.

CdM appeared to have gathered momentum at a critical point late in the first half, taking control of the ball in the final four minutes with a chance to go 66 yards for a go-ahead score. With the Sea Kings slated to receive the ball at the start of the third quarter, the scene was set for a game-shaping drive in their favor.

A 14-yard scramble from Espinoza on first down moved the ball to near midfield, but three plays later, CdM took the field for a monumental conversion attempt on fourth-and-one. Espinoza found no room to work with on a quarterback keeper, and attempted to bounce the ball to the outside, where he was met by a swarm of Downey defenders for a loss of 10 yards and a turnover on downs at CdM’s 48.

The Vikings took control and used all 84 seconds left on the clock on a 10-play drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Shane Olden to put Downey on top 28-21 at the break.

CdM opened the second half on a promising note, marching 63 yards for a game-tying touchdown. Downey responded with a 12-play, 80-yard drive of its own, however, and would take the lead for good as Foots found junior Noah Skobis for an 11-yard touchdown pass on fourth down.

A pair of touchdown receptions from Atkins played a significant role in the Vikings’ ability to hold the Sea Kings at bay down the stretch, stretching the lead to 14 on both occasions.

“It’s a sure thing,” Atkins said of carrying Friday’s momentum into next week’s semifinal game at No. 1 Capistrano Valley (12-0). “If we keep it going like this, there is no stopping us.”

Still, Espinoza gave CdM life in the final moments, thanks to a 33-second scoring drive. He capped with his third rushing touchdown of the evening with 1:29 remaining. A failed onside kick was followed by a three-and-out for the defense, which allowed for one final shot at the end zone.

This time, the Sea Kings came up just short. They lost for the first time since suffering a 45-27 season-opening setback to JSerra.

As the program looks to build upon this season’s success in 2018, it has plenty to look forward to in its returning players — headlined by Humphreys, who is also a safety. Humphreys closed out his sophomore season with 154 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions.

“John Humphreys is one of the single best leaders I’ve ever been around, and probably will ever be around,” O’Shea said. “He’s what stirs the drink for this program. He’ll be back with a vengeance next year and be a great player for us, along with all the other sophomores and juniors.”

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CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs

Quarterfinals

Downey 49, Corona del Mar 42

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Downey 14 – 14 – 7 – 14 — 49

Corona del Mar 14 – 7 – 7 – 14 — 42

FIRST QUARTER

D – Atkins 68 pass from Foots (Medina kick), 11:16.

CdM – Humphreys 7 pass from Espinoza (Casper kick), 10:13.

CdM – Murphy 1 run (Casper kick), 5:28.

D – Atkins 27 pass from Foots (Medina kick), 2:05.

SECOND QUARTER

CdM – Espinoza 1 run (Casper kick), 8:39.

D – Ross 34 run (Medina kick), 6:01.

D – Olden 1 run (Medina kick), :00.

THIRD QUARTER

CdM – Espinoza 10 run (Casper kick), 9:51.

D – Skobis 11 pass from Foots (Medina kick), 6:00.

FOURTH QUARTER

D – Atkins 19 pass from Foots (Medina kick), 9:52.

CdM – Redman 6 pass from Espinoza (Casper kick), 9:19.

D – Atkins 27 pass from Foots (Medina kick), 3:27.

CdM – Espinoza 1 run (Casper kick), 1:29.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

D – Ross, 25-167, 1 TD.

CdM – Murphy, 14-69, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

D – Foots, 18-25-0, 266, 5 TDs.

CdM – Espinoza, 18-34-3, 333, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

D – Atkins, 10-199, 4 TDs.

CdM – Humphreys, 8-154, 1 TD.

JOSH CRISWELL is a contributor to Times Community News. Follow him on Twitter: @joshccriswell