Sea Kings seeking a springboard

Barry Faulkner

Tesoro is the Spanish word for treasure and Corona del Mar High

just may have struck gold this week with the opportunity to play

last-place Tesoro High in the Pacific Coast League and regular-season

football finale Friday at 7 at Newport Harbor High.

The Sea Kings (5-4, 3-1 in league), ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern

Section Division IX, were dominated in last week’s first-place

showdown with Northwood. The 21-0 loss included 11 CdM fumbles, six

CdM turnovers, one costly injury and a serious blow to the Sea Kings’

late-season momentum.

“We need to get our confidence back,” said CdM Coach Dick Freeman,

who hopes a victory over the Titans (1-8, 0-4) can help his team draw

a weaker first-round playoff opponent.

With a win, the Sea Kings could still gain a share of the PCL

crown, should Northwood be upset by Calvary Chapel tonight. But, even

so, the Sea Kings would be the league’s No. 2 playoff representative,

a distinction that typically means a first-round matchup against

another second-place team.

“We’re playing for a decent playoff seed,” said Freeman, whose

program has lost each of its last three first-round playoff games

over a span of five seasons. “And we want to feel good about the way

we’re playing going into the playoffs.”

That good feeling, as well as a three-game winning streak, was

washed away on a rainy Friday night, when the sloppy conditions and

Northwood’s physical prowess proved to be a disastrous combination

for CdM.

Senior center Jason Kidushim suffered a dislocated kneecap against

Northwood and will be sidelined indefinitely.

His absence will force some shuffling in the offensive line.

Two-year starting guard John Hayes shifts to center, Andrew Keligian

moves from left to right guard, while sophomore Chris Reilly joins

veteran senior tackles John Daley and Andy Lujan up front.

Hayes’ experience should help replace the wisdom and leadership

brought by Kidushim.

Operating behind that offensive line will be senior tailback Mark

Cianciulli, who starts for the first time in three weeks. Cianciulli

has produced 911 yards and nine TDs on 191 carries this fall and has

2,360 rushing yards and 23 TDs in his three-year varsity career.

Senior quarterback Jonathan Hubbard, who has sparkled in four

league games, has thrown for 856 yards and six TDs this season. He is

22 of 39 for 506 yards and two TDs against PCL competition and has

thrown just one interception in league play.

CdM’s leading receiver is sophomore Kevin Welch, who has 24

catches for 498 yards and five TDs.

Tesoro, a first-year varsity program playing without seniors, has

struggled offensively this fall. The team’s 54 points are tied with

Estancia for the fewest in Orange County and the Titans have just six

offensive touchdowns all season.

Tesoro Coach Jim O’Connell, a former assistant coach for CIF

championship teams at Fountain Valley and Aliso Niguel, has seen his

team outscored, 231-35, since earning a 16-14 victory over Ocean View

in Week 2.

The Titans’ statistical leaders are all sophomores, including

quarterback Nick Nelson, running back Robert Catalano and receivers

Michael Tinoco and Erik Hamren.

Nelson has thrown for 983 yards and five TDs, completing 88 of 181

with 14 interceptions.

Catalano’s 338 rushing yards lead the team, while Tinoco has 24

catches for 257 yards and two TDs and Hamren has 21 receptions for 287 yards and two TDs.