Prep football: Junior achievement

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - Corona del Mar High football coach Dick Freeman

doesn’t operate with the constrictions of a players’ union, annoying

agents or any other of the formalities increasingly associated with the

labor of athletes.

So, it is with astute assuredness and blue-collar brevity that he can

relate the following directive to his players on the subject of effective

leadership:

“You don’t have to be giving speeches all the time,” said the man

entering his seventh season as the Sea Kings’ chief executive. “Just shut

up and work. If you’re doing what you’re supposed to by working hard,

you’ll be showing others what they need to do.”

Freeman will need his players to heed that message this fall,

especially since only eight members of the Class of 2002 are expected to

make significant contributions.

Among the aforementioned veterans, six started a majority of last

year’s contests and two, offensive tackle Steven Russell and defensive

lineman Steve Shipman, earned second-team All-Pacific Coast League

recognition.

Junior John Daley, another second-team all-league offensive lineman,

is among six Sea Kings who started at least four games as sophomores.

And, with only one player from last year’s feeble freshman team expected

to battle for substantial playing time, it will fall upon the Class of

2003, which won the PCL freshman title two seasons ago, to greatly

determine the Sea Kings’ fate this season.

Here’s a position-by-position look at the class of this year’s squad:

Quarterback: Dylan Hendy, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, shared time last

season with fellow junior Joe Barber, but is the uncontested field

general his senior season, after Barber failed to return.

Hendy, who played the first half of his prep career at Fountain Valley

High, completed 28 of 74 passes for 451 yards, six touchdowns and eight

interceptions last fall. His best work came in back-to-back nonleague

victories over Saddleback (8 of 13 for 110 yards and one TD, with one

interception) and Westminster (4 of 10 for 129 yards and two TDs without

an interception).

Freeman said he has worked hard to improve and spent hours of

classroom preparation with Offensive Coordinator Lyle Lansdell.

“He’s improved his knowledge and he seems to be a lot more comfortable

just knowing what to do and what we expect of him,” Freeman said.

He missed some games last year with a broken wrist and broke the

little finger on his passing hand late in the summer, so durability, a

problem for CdM signal callers in recent years, will be a question for

him.

Junior Jonathan Hubbard, the offensive player of the year for the 9-1

freshman team two years ago, returns after a year off. He’ll be the

primary backup, with fellow junior Bart Welch also providing depth.

“They’re both great athletes,” said Freeman, who will likely enlist

the help of Hubbard and Welch in the secondary.

Freeman noted the quarterbacks should benefit from simplified passing

schemes, a move made in hopes of fostering greater aerial efficiency than

in recent years.

The passing game generated less than 37% of last year’s total offense

and Freeman would like to see numbers this season that represent better

run-pass balance.

Running backs: Juniors Mark Cianciulli, Keith Long and Matt Boyce are

expected to form a tailback committee, while junior fullback Matt Cooper

is the leading returning rusher after having started 10 games last fall.

Cianciulli (5-9, 170) opened some eyes last season, before breaking a

thumb midway through the campaign and never returning. The former

freshmen MVP carried 24 times for 159 yards and three TDs and Freeman

likes his ability to make tacklers miss.

Long (6-1, 190), who sat out last year to concentrate on his second

varsity baseball season, is a more powerful runner, according to his

coach. He was defensive player of the year for the freshman team and may

have a large role on that side of the ball this year, as well.

Freeman likes Long’s work ethic and willingness to lead.

“He’s one of the guys who will get on people for loafing,” Freeman

said.

Boyce (6-0, 200) is another powerful runner who could play tailback or

fullback. He gained 124 yards on 32 carries last season and scored two

touchdowns.

Cooper (6-1, 210) collected 177 yards and four TDs on 46 carries, and

provided a physical blocking presence. He also had two receptions for 15

yards.

Juniors Matt Warsaw and Mike Schneider will provide depth at fullback

and tailback, respectively.

Receivers: Senior Steven Ward (5-10, 150) was the team’s

second-leading receiver a year ago and Freeman has consistently praised

his pass-catching abilities since he joined the varsity three seasons

ago. He caught 18 passes last season for 196 yards and three TDs, after

hauling in five passes for 56 yards as a sophomore.

“We just have to get the ball near him, because he can catch

anything,” Freeman said. “And he’s tough.”

Senior Paul Jones (5-6, 170) provides another steady option for Hendy,

who will rarely send either on fly patterns.

Ward and Jones both fit the possession label, so the deep threat

provided by Matt Moore, a sprinter who averaged more than 24 yards on 21

catches as a senior last year, is less formidable.

“Neither (Ward nor Jones) are going to be in the Olympics,” Freeman

said.

Juniors Matt Wilson and K.C. Rawlins, as well as senior Fountain

Valley transfer Matt Feinauer, provide depth, as will and junior Jeff

Reed.

Tight end: Senior Tyler McClellan (6-2, 210) started all but one game

last season, when he caught three passes for 40 yards. Having added 20

pounds in the offseason, Freeman believes McClellan will be a better

blocker.

He is also the front-runner at one defensive end spot, so junior Kris

Cooper should also see time at this position.

Cooper (6-2, 195) is also slated to play a prominent role in the

secondary.

Freeman said there are some double-tight formations in the offensive

scheme.

Offensive line: Steven Russell (6-3, 265, nearly 30 pounds heavier

than last year) will be an anchor at left tackle, where he started all 11

games last fall. The second-team All-Pacific Coast League selection will

be paired with junior guard John Daley (6-1, 215), who was also

second-team All-PCL last year.

“Russell is looking strong and Daley has been doing a great job,”

Freeman said.

Adam Dunn, who made nine of his 10 starts at center last season, left

a void when he badly broke his leg in a car accident last month and will

be lost for the season. In addition to his blocking skills, Freeman

believes the team will miss the senior’s leadership, though he will

continue to attend practices and games and try to help his fellow linemen

progress.

Senior Steve Shipman 6-3, 220), who started one game at guard last

season, but was primarily spared offensive duty to concentrate on

defense, will not be afforded such luxury this season. Freeman said he

figures to start at either right tackle, right guard or center, depending

on which of the cast of candidates for the remaining two starting jobs

performs.

Senior Matt Elliston (5-10, 215) could emerge at either center or

guard.

Senior Brad Sperber (5-9, 195), junior Jason Kidushim (5-9, 200) and

junior Jayson Skalla (5-10, 215) are also candidates at left guard.

Joining Shipman as potential starters at right tackle are Andy Lujan

(6-1, 220), a sophomore, and junior Steven Savage (6-0, 225).

Freeman is confident that line coach Miguel Romo will find the right

combination and, as in years past, produce a cohesive, productive unit.

Defensive line: Steve Shipman made most of his 10 starts at defensive

end last year, but he may be needed at tackle this season, according to

Freeman. He was in on two sacks as a junior and prefers to play outside.

But there are more bodies at end than tackle, so he may be required to

plug up the middle.

Jayson Skalla (one sack last season) returns at one tackle spot, while

Tyler McClellan (two sacks in limited duty) could provide a strong

pass-rushing presence at one end spot.

Jason Kidushim is a candidate at end, while Matt Elliston is among

those who could play tackle.

Juniors Joseph Carr (5-11, 185), Steven Savage, Jeff Wicken (5-8, 185)

and Andy Lujan are additional candidates.

Linebackers: Matt Cooper and John Daley are slated to start at the two

inside spots, with Matt Boyce figuring heavily into the equation, as

well. The Sea Kings’ former system employed a middle linebacker, but the

new scheme will, ideally, have two ‘backers to fill the holes between the

tackles. Lining up behind the even (four-man) front, the two inside guys

could also provide more impact with an inside blitz.

“We’re going to bring more people,” Freeman said.

Kris Cooper, who started four games at strong safety last season, will

shift to outside linebacker, where Keith Long is expected to start on the

other side. The outside linebackers’ responsibilities, Freeman said, are

more similar to safeties than in most schemes.

Boyce could also play outside, where Jeff Reed also adds depth.

Secondary: Orange County All-Star Charlie Alshuler, who shared the

county lead with nine interceptions as a senior last year, will be hard

to replace, but Mark Cianciulli and Jonathan Hubbard are the

front-runners to try to do so at the cornerback spots.

K.C. Rawlins, who started three games at free safety last season, has

the edge over fellow junior Bart Welch, who made four starts last fall,

according to Freeman.

Cianciulli had two interceptions last season and Welch had one.

Freeman, however, views cornerbacks Steven Ward and Matt Wilson, as

well as safety Matt Feinauer as potentially interchangeable. And, with

Cianciulli and his fellow starters expected to contribute on offense,

Freeman believes shuffling in players in the secondary will help keep

everyone fresh.

Kicking game: Freeman will miss three-year punter Rory McKeever, an

All-PCL and all-district performer last fall, but will count on Geoff

Collier, recruited from the soccer team, to help fill the void.

K.C. Rawlins is also a candidate to kick and his leg strength may make

him the obvious choice to kick off, Freeman said.

Matt Elliston returns as the longsnapper, while Mark Cianciulli,

Jonathan Hubbard, Jeff Reed and Matt Feinauer are among those expected to

return punts and kickoffs.