Swagger returning to CdM

Barry Faulkner

The good fortune that led to a good feeling in a Pacific Coast

League-opening victory over University High Oct. 17, continued early

in the Corona del Mar High football team’s 33-16 victory Friday at

Laguna Beach.

The Sea Kings (4-2, 2-0 in league) got big breaks on each of the

first three plays from scrimmage, two of which produced CdM

touchdowns, to take a 13-0 lead in the opening 43 seconds.

After opening with a 70-yard bomb from quarterback Jonathan

Hubbard to sophomore receiver Kevin Welch, who burned the Breakers’

zone coverage, Laguna’s first play from scrimmage nearly evened the

score.

“They ran a flea-flicker and they had a guy behind our secondary,”

CdM Coach Dick Freeman said. “But but the ball was poorly thrown.”

CdM’s Mordy Ornguze then returned a fumble 20 yards for a TD on

the next snap and the Sea Kings were on their way to a 26-0

first-quarter lead.

“We got a little lucky,” said Freeman, whose team benefited from a

momentun-turning fumble in the 14-13 come-from-behind win over Uni.

“We’re kind of hoping we haven’t used it all up.”

The Sea Kings will attempt to extend their second two-game winning

streak of the season -- surrounding a three-game losing skid -- when

they visit Calvary Chapel (4-2, 2-0) Saturday night at Westminster

High.

A victory over Calvary Chapel would establish the Sea Kings as the

primary threat to defending league champion Northwood (6-1, 2-0). CdM

is scheduled to meet the Timberwolves Nov. 8.

Freeman said the victory over Laguna Beach should go a long way

toward reestablishing the confidence the aforementioned losing streak

had cut into.

“We started off with those two wins (over Costa Mesa and Troy),

and there may have been some thinking that we’ve worked hard, so

we’re owed these things,” Freeman said. “Then we got pounded (by

Newport Harbor), lost one we probably should have won (Cypress) and

we played a La Habra team that showed us what a team that good plays

like. Now, I think the confidence is coming.”

The CdM offense’s confidence was bolstered by a season-high 233

rushing yards against Laguna Beach, which included 174 yards and

three touchdowns on a season-high 30 carries by senior tailback Mark

Cianciulli.

Freeman said the play of Cianciulli and a continually improving

offensive line, were big reasons for the effective ground game

against the Breakers. But, he admitted, the game-opening long pass

may have helped set the stage for rushing success.

“We have not been throwing the ball and we can throw it deep

pretty well,” Freeman said. “We wanted to see if we could back their

defense off (from the line of scrimmage) early, rather than insert

the long pass later in the game. Even if it didn’t work, we wanted to

give them something to think about.”

Freeman’s desire to diminish Cianciulli’s workload -- he is

averaging 25 carries per game -- could be realized with the expected

return to the backfield this week by injured senior Keith Long.

Long, who could join the tailback rotation that now also includes

sophomore Wess Presson (46 yards on nine carries against Laguna),

could be cleared to play after straining his back in the Cypress

loss.

The news is not all good on the injury front, however, as junior

defensive tackle Dave Simon, who had injected some much-needed

interior quickness, broke his thumb against Laguna Beach and may be

sidelined for the season.

“He’s trying to get a second opinion,” Freeman said.

Freeman also said his team’s quick start Friday helped influence

Laguna Beach to throw more, which helped limit senior tailback

Donnelle Darling’s effectiveness.