Burying the past

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Friday’s Pacific Coast League football showdown

with Estancia is homecoming for Corona del Mar’s streaking Sea Kings. But

it’s also old home week for CdM assistant coaches Ed Blanton, the Eagles’

head coach for eight seasons (1978-85), as well as Miguel Romo and Tony

Naranjo, former Estancia players.

Third-year Estancia head man Dave Perkins even has a history with CdM,

playing on the other side of the Back Bay rivalry at Newport Harbor in

the late 1960s.

But the coaches’ work will be nearly completed when the two teams

initiate battle at 7 p.m. at Newport Harbor High.

CdM (5-3, 3-0 in league), ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section

Division IX, brings a five-game winning streak and aspirations of

defending the PCL crown it shared last fall. The Sea Kings have already

clinched a Division IX playoff berth, but are hoping to improve their

draw by finishing strongly.

The Sea Kings could lose and still play for a league title in Week 10

against University, while an Estancia victory would lift the Eagles (5-3,

2-1) back into the PCL title picture.

“We’re looking at this as a playoff-type deal,” CdM Coach Dick Freeman

said. “We can’t afford to look past Estancia, because whatever we do,

makes a big difference. We don’t want to end up playing a first-place

team in the opening round and we don’t want that to be determined by a

coin flip.”

Perkins knows his team will earn its first postseason berth since 1995

by winning one of its final two games (it closes with Laguna Beach Nov.

10). But he’s not so sure this is the game that will satisfy that

requirement.

“We could end up anywhere from first to third to out of it,” Perkins

said. “In a five-game league season, you have to take care of business.

We learned that last year.”

Last fall, the Eagles entered the final week with a chance at a share

of the league crown, only to lose and miss the playoffs.

CdM’s resurgence, after an 0-3 start, has been keyed by the rushing

exploits of senior tailback Blake Hacker.

“He’s the best running back we’ve faced, by far,” Perkins said of the

5-foot-6, 170-pounder, who has amassed 945 of his 1,111 rushing yards this season during the winning streak. Hacker has also scored all eight

of his touchdowns during the skein, which, with another win, would move

one notch closer to the seven-game school record set in 1983.

Hacker has flourished behind tackles Dave Richardson (6-5, 300) and

Steven Russell, guards Matt Marston and John Daley, as well as center

Adam Dunn.

“I don’t know who is coaching their offensive line (the aforementioned

Romo), but he’s doing a heck of a job,” Perkins said. “Those guys really

get off the ball, roll over that front foot and knock you down.”

Junior quarterback Joe Barber has also been on a roll, since taking

over when fellow junior Dylan Hendy broke his wrist in Week 6. Barber has

completed 18 of 25 for 244 yards and four TDs the last two weeks, with

only one interception. He is 36 of 71 for 484 yards and seven TDs

overall.

Senior speedster Matt Moore, whom Perkins termed the fastest receiver

in the league, has 20 catches for 468 yards (a 23.4-yard average) and

four TDS.

“Their offense has been rolling (averaging 39.2 points during the

streak) and our defense has been inconsistent (giving up 35 points per

game in league),” Perkins said.

Estancia’s defense has been keyed by linebackers Ivan Garcia, Bobby

Arroyo and Fahad Jahid, as well as ends David Rodriguez and Cesar Romero.

While the Eagles have had trouble stopping opponents, their offense

has been tough to stop.

“They make you defend the entire field,” Freeman said.

Senior running backs Andy Romo (nearly 1,000 combined yards rushing

and receiving and 11 TDs) and Jahid (697 rushing yards on 116 carries)

have combined with senior quarterback Kenny Valbuena to help the Eagles

average 32 points in league.

Andy Romo leads the Eagles in rushing (724 on 104 carries) and receiving (247 on 22), while Valbuena has completed 59 of 109 for 996

yards and seven TDs, with only one interception.

Senior tight end David Stoddard (averaging 24 yards on 19 catches) has

also become a big-play target for the Eagles.

“(The Eagles) have a lot of talent,” Freeman said. “Everywhere you

look, there’s speed and quickness and size.”

Perkins added to the mutual-admiration society with some kind words

for CdM’s defense.

“Their team speed on defense is impressive and they’ve been stopping

the big plays,” Perkins said.

That defense is led by senior linebackers Nick Prosser and Taumata

Grey, as well as senior cornerback Charlie Alshuler (five interceptions

the last five games).

CdM yielded just 2 yards on the ground and 49 though the air in last

week’s 27-7 win over Laguna Beach.

Estancia also enters with momentum, having rallied from a 20-0 deficit

for a 34-27 triumph over crosstown rival Costa Mesa.

CdM, 6-1 since entering the PCL, leads the series, 15-9-3, and has won

three straight from the Eagles.