Date with the Red Devils

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Corona del Mar High football coach Dick Freeman’s

scouting report on Pomona, which the Sea Kings host Friday at 7 p.m. at

Newport Harbor High, was both concise and foreboding.

The Red Devils (1-0) are huge up front, have speed at the skill

positions, and boast at least one blue-chip recruit who combines both

attributes.

It could be a devilish combination to overcome, but the Sea Kings, ranked

No. 8 in CIF Southern Section Division IX, are at least looking to

improve upon their play in a 28-7 season-opening loss to Marina.

“We’re a good football team, we just ran into somebody a little more

experienced and more ready than we were last week,” Freeman said.

Sea King ballcarriers can look, er, forward to running into Pomona star

Jimmy Verdon, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound safety. Verdon amassed 168 tackles

and four interceptions as a junior and could likely fill a small garage

with his off-season recruiting mail. UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington

State, Arizona State, Wisconsin and Texas A&M; are among the o7

SuperPrepf7 magazine preseason No. 35 Far West prospect’s foremost

suitors.

“If he isn’t Ronnie Lott, I don’t know who is,” Freeman said of Verdon,

whom the Sea Kings gained firsthand knowledge of during a summer passing

league contest.

That passing league game, however, could bolster CdM’s confidence,

according to Freeman.

“We did pretty well and I think we ended up beating them,” Freeman said.

Passing league, as Freeman readily admits, is a far cry from strapping it

on under Friday night lights. The Sea Kings were reminded of this last

week, when they managed just 28 yards on the ground en route to 87 yards

total offense.

They penetrated Marina’s 30-yard line only once, when they combined their

biggest pass play (a 34-yard Matt Moore toss to tight end Adam Cooper)

and their biggest ground gain (a 23-yard TD run by Grant Estabrook) to

post their only score.

CdM lined up in punt formation as often as it moved the chains (seven

times) and Moore was sacked six times.

Estabrook, a 6-2, 220-pound senior, finished with 77 yards on 22 carries

and Moore, a junior making his first varsity start, completed 5 of 11

for 59 yards, without an interception.

Freeman said picking up Pomona’s frequent blitzes will be a point of

emphasis. In addition, containing the Red Devils’ speed will test the Sea

Kings’ inexperienced defense.

Senior end Jay Bottom was among those who impressed defensively in CdM’s

opener, along with linebackers Brandon Johnson and Blake Hacker.

But Bottom is expected to be sidelined after sustaining a concussion in

practice.

Replacing Bottom at end will be senior Mike Hayes, who sill also start at

fullback. Hayes sat out the opener after breaking his thumb in a

scrimmage against Villa Park. He will wear a soft cast, but has the

go-ahead to return.

Pomona defeated South El Monte, 20-0, in its opener and hopes to continue

the upswing after posting a 4-24-2 mark the last three seasons. During

that time, Coach Joe Capraro’s squad has lost all 14 Miramonte League

games.

It’s CdM’s first meeting with Pomona.