A motivated bunch for the Sea Kings

Bryce Alderton

Before Corona del Mar High’s football team even took the field for

its scrimmage Friday, senior quarterback Jonathan Hubbard shouted

words of encouragement to his teammates, “That sideline better be

pumped up.”

The whole team roared back as the offense took the field for its

first series against Villa Park in the three-team scrimmage that also

included Pacifica at El Modena High.

The two-hour scrimmage allowed Corona del MarCoach Dick Freeman to

assess his players’ talent and “fill in the holes” as needed.

For the most part, Freeman was pleased with the scrimmage.

“I thought our offense did well. It looked like (we) blocked some

people so I’m real happy with that,” Freeman said. “I just wanted to

see where people are at, with the main concern of who else can fill

in. (Junior offensive lineman) Danny Tarkesian did well and (Austin)

Brawner ran the ball very well. (Today) shows (Brawner) can play with

bigger people.”

Brawner, a 5-foot-11, 160-pound sophomore running back, lit up

Pacifica’s defense on CdM’s second offensive series, scoring

touchdowns on runs of 40 and 5 yards.

He scored the 40-yarder on the third play of the 10-play offensive

set, eluding the first tackler, spinning to his left and running

through a substantial hole the offensive line had opened up.

Brawner’s 5-yard score came one play after 5-11, 180-pound

sophomore quarterback Wess Presson threw a dart down the eastern

sideline that was caught by diving senior wide receiver K.C. Rawlins.

CdM scored on each of its four offensive series, collecting five

rushing touchdowns altogether. Keith Long, a 6-1, 200-pound senior

running back, scored on the Sea Kings’ final offensive play of the

day. He sidestepped Pacifica’s defensive line, leaped over a fallen

defender and scampered 25 yards between the hash marks for the score

as his teammates erupted in jubilation.

Senior linebacker-fullback Matt Cooper, a 6-2, 225-pound returning

all-league performer on defense, ran 15 yards for CdM’s first score.

Tom Welch, a 5-11, 175-pound sophomore wide receiver, took a pitch

from Presson and darted 3 yards for a score against Villa Park.

Running back Mark Cianciulli, a 5-10, 175-pound senior, ran for 45

yards on four carries during CdM’s first offensive series and

finished with 54 yards on eight attempts in his two offensive series.

On defense, Welch led the team with four tackles. Jeff Reed added

three tackles and recovered a fumble. Rawlins, senior linebacker

Jason Kidushim, defensive lineman Jayson Skalla and junior defensive

lineman Andy Lujan also swarmed around the ball on defense for the

Sea Kings.

During CdM’s fourth and final defensive series against Villa Park,

junior defensive back Daniel Marin-Finn, a transfer from Mater Dei,

twice disrupted passes intended for receivers, including one leaping

deflection.

A candidate for the hit of the afternoon came during CdM’s second

defensive series, against Cavanaugh.

Cavanaugh, playing quarterback, took the snap at the CdM 20,

scanned downfield for a second and took off scrambling to his left.

As Cavanaugh leaped across the goal line, the 6-1, 170-pound Andrew Fowler lowered his shoulder and struck Cavanaugh with a thud as both

players fell to the ground.

Cavanaugh scored, but Sea King players and coaches shouted praise

for the hit, as Fowler got up and ran off the field with a grin.