Freshman football: CdM vs. Northwood: A heavyweight clash

Steve Virgen

IRVINE - Coming soon to a football stadium near Corona del Mar High

and Northwood: The Sea Kings and Timberwolves rivalry.

If Thursday’s freshman football game between CdM and Northwood for the

Pacific Coast League title is any indication of what’s in store for the

future, rest assured upcoming varsity games will go down to the wire.

The PCL freshman title game featured a nail-biter and afterward a

common respect shared for one another as Northwood completed an

undefeated season with a 12-7 victory over the visiting Sea Kings.

Corona was just 31 yards from a game-winning touchdown, but fumbled

with 1:18 left in the game.

“(The Sea Kings) heard their motivation,” CdM Coach Gary Almquist said

of the Timberwolves postgame celebration, which included water-jug

dumping and “We’re-No. 1” chants. “(Motivation) was in their eyes. This

team wants a championship. They will work toward that in the future. They

will come back,” said Almquist.

Both teams dominated most opponents before entering Thursday’s title

game.

Northwood (10-0, 5-0 in the PCL) and CdM (8-2, 4-1) averaged more than

32 points a game. The Sea Kings entered fresh off 42-0 and 48-0 wins over

PCL foes Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa, respectively.

The first quarter had the look of a high-scoring contest as the squads

traded a touchdown each in a 12-second span.

Quarterback Wes Presson and his Sea Kings drew first, thanks to a

little bit of luck.

Northwood attempted a 32-yard field goal, but the ball smacked the

left post. On the ensuing play, Presson launched a deep pass to his

favorite target, Kevin Welch. The CdM receiver made an over-the-shoulder

grab at the Northwood 45 and outran the Timberwolves for the touchdown.

After Welch booted in the PAT, the Sea Kings appeared to have the

advantage.

But Northwood’s Jeff Keller crushed CdM’s short-lived superiority with

a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

The Sea Kings tried to answer the kickoff return and gambled with a

running play on a fourth-and-one from their own 23. But it backfired.

The Timberwolves stuffed the run and two plays later, Northwood

quarterback Dan Selway rolled right on play action and delivered a

22-yard touchdown pass to a diving Jacob Miles for the 12-7 lead.

“This is going to a rivalry for the next four years,” Northwood Coach

Craig Huff said. “(CdM) was great. Those kids really showed us how to

play. That was the only close game for us this season. We’ve only been

behind once this season.”

Welch led all receivers with 124 yards on six catches and the

touchdown, while Presson passed for 183 yards on 11 of 24 attempts.

“He plays with the biggest heart I have ever seen,” Almquist said of

Welch. “He dislocated his elbow on the sixth play of the first game and

he’s come back from that.”

CdM nearly scored before halftime. Tyler Lance ended a Northwood drive

when he crushed a Timberwolves’ receiver for a fumble and CdM linebacker

Zach Wishengrad recovered near midfield with less than a minute before

the half. But, Northwood held on to its lead.

In the third quarter, CdM defensive lineman Chris Reilly nearly

intercepted a pass, but still managed to deflect the short toss. Then in

the fourth, Lance, one of the Sea Kings’ captains, recovered a fumble

after Northwood attempted a failed hook-and-lateral.

Two plays later, he caught a 34-yard pass from Presson to lift the Sea

Kings’ spirits higher. But Northwood stood its ground and forced CdM to a

turnover on downs.

However, the CdM defense sent the Timberwolves three and out, that

included Lance’s pass deflection on a third-and-three with 3:43

remaining. The Timberwolves would later force the fumble to win the game.

“We had a tremendous season,” Almquist said. “We beat most teams by 30

or more points. We increased kids on the roster. We needed to play games

like this every week. The offseason is going to be a long season for

them.”

Northwood 12, Corona del Mar 7

Score by Quarters

Corona del Mar 7 0 0 0 - 7

Northwood 12 0 0 0 - 12 FIRST QUARTER

CdM - K. Welch 80 pass from Presson (K. Welch kick), 4:32.

N - Keller 75 kickoff return (kick failed), 4:20.

N - Miles 22 pass from Selway (run failed), 1:22.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CdM - Presson, 6-15; Brawner 4-16; T. Welch, 5-16.

N - Keller, 7-30; Keating, 6-24; Hammeras, 2-1; Rotcher, 1-minus-1;

Selway, 3-minus-2.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CdM - Presson, 11-24-0, 183, 1 TD.

N - Selway, 10-19-0, 113, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

CdM - K. Welch, 6-124, 1 TD; Lance, 3-42; T. Welch, 2-17.

N - Wasil, 3-46; Miles 3-45, 1 TD; Keller 2-13, Hammeras, 1-6;

Rotcher, 1-3.