Sea Kings preserve prestige

Barry Faulkner

While the Corona del Mar High football team’s rugged preleague

schedule produced three losses, more than a handful of injuries, and,

perhaps, chiseled away at the supreme confidence that followed a 2-0

start, it certainly did little to diminish the Sea Kings’ reputation.

Despite consecutive losses to Newport Harbor, Cypress and La

Habra, the Sea Kings will enter Thursday’s Pacific Coast League

opener against visiting University with the No. 5 ranking in CIF

Southern Section Division IX. This is two spots better than Northwood

(4-1) and five spots ahead of Laguna Beach (4-1), University (2-3),

which some believe is still a viable PCL title contender, is

unranked, but tops a list of three teams outside of the top 10 that

are still receiving votes.

CdM began the losing streak ranked No. 6 and actually moved up

after a 17-0 loss to Back Bay rival Newport Harbor, ranked No. 3 in

CIF Division VI.

A surprising Week 4 loss to Cypress, which has yet to crack the

top 10 in Division VI failed to affect CdM’s ranking. And, due to

logistical problems associated with the section office moving from

Cerritos to a new Los Alamitos locale, polling will not be conducted

this week after Friday’s 41-14 setback to La Habra, ranked No. 3 in

Division IX.

Perception aside, Freeman believes his team is better than it was

five weeks ago, though much of that improvement has been

compartmentalized.

“Team wise, we have a long way to go and offensively, we haven’t

shown up the way we would have liked to,” Freeman explained. “But

defensively, we’ve done some good things and, individually, our kids

have made progress. Where we’re having problems is putting it all

together without mistakes.”

Freeman also cites building depth as a positive, though much of

the playing time logged by some younger players was necessitated by

the loss of a handful of starters to various injuries.

“Our sophomores have gained a lot of experience and some, like

Tyler Lance, Kevin and Tom Welch and Wess Presson have done some very

good things,” Freeman said.

Lance, a linebacker and tight end, has developed into an impact

player on defense, while Kevin Welch is by far the team’s leading

receiver with 12 catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns.

Presson, who had contributed mostly in the secondary, stepped in

for injured tailback Mark Cianciulli to rush for 86 yards and two TDs

against La Habra.

Freeman also points to progress made by defensive tackle Jeff

Wicken and center Jason Kidushim as positives thus far.

Still more reason to retain preseason hopes of contending for a

PCL crown, is the Sea Kings’ apparent return to health.

Freeman said Cianciulli’s strained neck muscles, sustained while

returning a kickoff Friday, do not appear serious enough to sideline

the team’s leading rusher (536 yards) and scorer (six TDs) for this

week.

Freeman said senior running back-outside linebacker Keith Long

could be cleared to play after missing nearly two games with a

strained back, and senior receiver-outside linebacker Jeff Reed

should be ready to go after sitting out Friday with a sore shoulder.

Senior fullback Matt Cooper, who sat out Week 4 with an ankle

sprain, suffered no recurrence against La Habra.

Senior safety K.C. Rawlins, however, is expected to remain

sidelined for a third straight week with a severe groin pull and

Freeman said junior cornerback Daniel Marin-Finn is likely out with

what he termed a significant ankle contusion suffered against La

Habra.

Freeman continues to lament turnovers -- the Sea Kings are now

minus-seven in turnover ratio -- as well as assignment errors on both

sides of the ball.

“It’s very frustrating as coaches,” Freeman said. “We’re going to

ask for much better concentration in practice this week. Maybe our

guys have been taking things for granted.”