Football: Sea Kings get in the win column

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - According to Charlie Alshuler, he was just at the

right place at the right time, three times.

Alshuler’s three interceptions and one key deflection in the end zone

enabled the Sea Kings to pull out a thrilling 38-35 nonleague win over

visiting Saddleback Thursday night at Orange Coast College.

“I was just trying to do my job,” Alshuler said, following his

defensive performance. “Everyone did their job out there on defense. I

just happened to make the interceptions.”

Alshuler also caught a touchdown pass for CdM (1-3), but it was the

running of senior tailback Blake Hacker that sparked the offense.

Hacker rushed for 209 yards on 29 carries and scored a touchdown as

the Sea Kings rolled up 327 rushing yards on the Roadrunners (1-3).

“What can you say about Hacker,” a relieved Coach Dick Freeman said

afterward. “He’s worked hard all year for us and he’s a gritty competitor

who refuses to quit.”

Sophomore running back Mark Cianciulli scampered for 88 yards on 10

carries and had a touchdown, while sophomore fullback Matt Cooper scored

twice in his seven carries for 29 yards.

“Our sophomores did a great job tonight,” Freeman said. “We’ve been

working hard on our offensive game and tonight, it paid off.”

It was CdM’s smashmouth-style versus Saddleback’s pass-happy,

no-huddle offense and both worked well.

Roadrunners’ quarterback Saavedra threw for 302 yards on 22-of-38

passing and had two touchdowns. His favorite target, Ismael Isais caught

nine passes for 131 yards and had both TDs.

On the ground, Joel Gonzalez, returning to the Roadrunners’ lineup

from a collapsed lung, gained 75 yards on 22 carries and scored three

touchdowns.

Despite the knowledge of Coach Jerry Witte’s no-huddle style, covering

it was not an easy task.

“We practiced against it all week, but they ran it much faster than we

anticipated,” Freeman said. “We were beaten on individual skill players

like Saavedra, Gonzalez and Isais, but we hung in there.”

With all the offense, perhaps the biggest drive for the Sea Kings came

when they didn’t score any points.

Leading, 38-35, CdM drained nearly all of the final seven minutes off

the fourth-quarter clock on a 14-play drive that covered 60 yards.

Saddleback stopped the Sea Kings on downs, but with only 26 seconds

remaining, no timeouts and the ball on their own 6-yard line, even the

no-huddle didn’t help.

Trailing 14-10 at halftime, CdM outscored the Roadrunners, 28-7, in

just over 13 minutes to take control of the game.

Cooper and Cianciulli each scored from a yard out on consecutive

drives and following a Saddleback touchdown, Hacker broke free for a

54-yard run touchdown, giving the Sea Kings a 31-21 advantage after three

quarters.

Cooper muscled his way into the end zone on an 18-yard scamper and CdM

led, 38-21, with 10:54 remaining.

But no lead is safe against the explosive Roadrunners. Saddleback took

advantage of a fumble recovery off a CdM interception to maintain

possession. Two plays later a 5-yard touchdown pass from Saavedra to

Isais cut the lead to 38-27 following a blocked extra-point attempt.

CdM punted on its next possession and the Roadrunners marched down the

field on seven plays, gaining 57 yards. The drive ended on a 7-yard

touchdown run by Gonzalez, who also barreled into the end zone on the

two-point play, cutting the lead to, 38-35.

Alshuler, fittingly enough, ended the Roadrunners’ final drive with

his third interception, giving the Sea Kings their first win of the

season.

“We’ve hung together all year and we’re not going to quit,” Alshuler

said.

With the two coaches good friends, Freeman hated to see anyone lose.

“Win, lose or draw, it’s always going to be a great game,” Freeman said

of Witte’s Roadrunners. “It’s always fun playing against Jerry.”

Next up for the Sea Kings is Westminster Friday at Newport Harbor

High, beginning at 7 p.m.

“It’ll be easier to sleep tonight, that’s for sure,” Freeman said.

“It’s nice to get that first one under your belt, finally.”