CdM aims to settle score

Barry Faulkner

Coming off a disappointing 17-0 loss to Newport Harbor in its

biggest rivalry game, the Corona del Mar High football team is faced

with a supreme rubber game with nonleague visitor Cypress Friday at 7

p.m. at Newport Harbor High.

The Centurions and Sea Kings have split the last two seasons, with

each scoring 52 points in the series.

CdM (2-1), ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division IX, won

last year’s clash, 42-17, after Cypress (2-1), unranked in CIF

Division VI, earned a 35-10 triumph in 2000.

Coach Kerry Crabb’s visitors, however, bring something to this

game that CdM has not shown thus far: offensive balance.

Cypress has 421 rushing yards and 362 more passing. Conversely,

the Sea Kings have produced 78% of their 624 offensive yards on the

ground.

Senior tailback Mark Cianciulli has been the catalyst for CdM’s

rushing production, collecting 380 yards and four touchdowns on 79

carries this fall. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder needs 171 rushing yards

to reach 2,000 for his varsity career.

CdM, however, produced minus-1 yard rushing in the second half

against Harbor and will need to execute to have success against a

Cypress defense that has played well this season.

“(The Centurions) have some good size, defensively, and they have

some great linebackers,” CdM Coach Dick Freeman said. “They will

blitz, so we’ll have to do a good job picking that up.”

Cypress, with just 21 points allowed this season, ranks fifth in

Orange County in scoring defense. Senior linebackers Brandon McGowan

(6-0, 200) and Ty Belanger (6-1, 215) were both second-team

All-Empire League performers as juniors. They are the only two of

eight all-league players back from last year’s 3-6 squad.

In order to keep Cypress from flooding the rushing lanes, CdM may

need to increase its productivity with the pass.

Senior quarterback Jonathan Hubbard has completed 16 of 29 for 137 yards, with three touchdowns and only one interception. He was sacked

three times last week, after not having been sacked the first two

games, wins over Costa Mesa and Troy.

Sophomore Kevin Welch is CdM’s leading receiver with six catches

for 46 yards and two TDs.

McGowan and senior defensive backs Charles Dobbs and Anton Jamir

all have two interceptions this season.

“A lot of (the interceptions) has to do with the pressure they put

on the quarterback,” Freeman said. “And they’ve stopped the run

pretty well, so they’ve forced teams to throw.”

Dobbs (5-8, 160), who also returns punts, is a key contributor on

offense, where he leads the team with 20 receptions for 192 yards and

one touchdown.

Senior Nick Mahin (6-2, 210) spearheads the ground attack with 373

yards and two TDs on 67 rushing attempts this fall.

Eric Burroughs, a 5-11, 170-pound junior, has completed 33 of 60

for 362 yards and two TDs, with three interceptions.

The status of Corona del Mar senior Matt Cooper, a starter at both

fullback and inside linebacker, is uncertain after he sprained an

ankle against Newport Harbor.

Senior safety K.C. Rawlins may also be held out if his pulled

groin does not improve, Freeman said.

Freeman has penciled in sophomore Tyler Lance into Cooper’s

starting linebacker spot.