CdM, Uni square off in PCL crucial

Barry Faulkner

Two teams that have been their own worst enemy will try to

victimize someone else for a change when Corona del Mar High hosts

University in tonight’s Pacific Coast League football opener at 7 at

Newport Harbor High.

The Sea Kings (2-3), ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division

VI, have committed nine turnovers and various other miscues during

their three-game losing streak and enter league minus-seven in

turnover ratio.

The Trojans (2-3), have committed 10 of their 15 turnovers in

losses to Irvine and Salpointe of Arizona and come in on a two-game

losing streak with a minus-six turnover ratio.

“We’re just waiting to put one together,” CdM Coach Dick Freeman

said. “We’ve been a guard pulling late or a running back not

following a block away from some big plays and those things have hurt

us.”

Injuries have also hurt CdM, which should be closer to full

strength tonight.

Senior tailback Mark Cianciulli, who left last week’s 42-14 loss

to La Habra with strained neck muscles, is scheduled to start. He has

been the offensive catalyst thus far, rushing for 536 yards and five

touchdowns on 121 carries and catching seven passes for 78 yards an

one TD.

Senior receiver-outside linebacker Jeff Reed is also expected

back, after sitting out last week with a sore shoulder. He is

scheduled to start on defense.

Senior safety K.C. Rawlins, who pulled a groin in Week 3 against

Newport Harbor, will likely miss a third straight game, though

Freeman will hold out hope Rawlins will have improved enough by

kickoff to compete.

The status of Keith Long, a senior running back-outside linebacker

who sprained his back in Week 4 against Cypress, is still uncertain.

Freeman did not list him among his starters as of Tuesday.

CdM will not only have to rectify some confusion of its own, which

has led to faulty execution on offense and defense the last three

weeks, it will need to avoid confusion that a multifaceted Uni

offense may create.

“They used to just line up in the wing-T, but now they have about

six billion variations,” said Freeman, who also coordinates the Sea

Kings’ defense. “They have guys lined up all over the place because

they like to throw a lot more this year. If we ran their offense,

we’d never line up right.”

The Trojans, coached for the 17th season by Mark Cunningham, have

emphasized the pass in order to feature senior quarterback Nick

Gerakos, a returning starter who is closing in on the school career

passing record. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Gerakos, who is also a

standout in baseball, has thrown for 906 yards and six TDs this

season, completing 68 of 118. Since taking over as the starter last

season, he has thrown for 2,344 yards and 18 TDs. Damian Defeo is the

Trojans’ career passing yardage leader with 2,757.

The Trojans’ ground attack has been paced by senior Koji Chavez,

who has 246 yards and seven TDs on 53 carries.

Senior tight end Scotty Rickert is Uni’s leading receiver with 18

catches for 307 yards and three TDs, while Ryan McMillen (13 catches

for 183 yards) and Tomas Gomez (12 for 160) have also been frequent

targets.

CdM’s passing game has averaged just 70 yards per game, thus far,

as senior quarterback Jonathan Hubbard has completed 32 of 64 for 350

yards and four TDs.

Sophomore Kevin Welch (12 catches for 144 yards and three TDs) is

the Sea Kings’ leading receiver.

CdM has won four straight league openers, including all three

since entering the PCL.

The Sea Kings hold a 12-8-1 series lead over the Trojans, though

Uni has won the last two.