Vindication for CdM

Steve Virgen

Corona del Mar High Coach Dick Freeman said it’s always difficult for

his football team to respond after a loss to Back Bay rival Newport

Harbor. Yet, Freeman went with something simple for the Sea Kings to

earn a 28-14 nonleague victory over Cypress at Western High Friday

night.

“It’s always nice having athletes,” Freeman said after his team

celebrated with a bit of relief.

CdM junior quarterback Tom Welch typified Freeman’s mention of

athletes by running for two touchdowns, showing his improvisation

skills that helped lead the Sea Kings (3-1) to the victory.

Last year, CdM responded from a loss to Newport Harbor with a

14-12 loss to Cypress. This season, the Sea Kings opened with a 14-0

lead over Newport, only to lose, 29-14. However, Freeman was pleased

with his team’s ability to rally against Cypress this time around.

CdM’s defense also aided in the victory, coming up with two

interceptions by Kevin Welch and Shaun Mohler, and holding the

Centurions to 47 yards in the first half.

“The key with Harbor is that we had to forget about Harbor,”

Freeman said. “You have to get past that. It’s tough to do. We don’t

do well a lot of times, with the emotional low. We end up on a

downward plunge. But these guys did a pretty good job of picking

themselves up.”

Freeman was particularly pleased when the Sea Kings answered the

Centurions’ slight gain of momentum. Kicker Mike Morrison booted a

49-yard field goal to cut CdM’s lead to 7-3. However, CdM, the

10th-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division IX, came right back

with a seven-play, 64-yard drive that was capped by a 9-yard

touchdown run by junior Wess Presson.

The Sea Kings’ defense then sent the Centurions (1-3) three and

out, and the CdM offense took advantage with an 11-play, 44-yard drive that included three offensive holding penalties.

Corona was backed up, facing a third-and-30 situation and went to

its twin brother combo of Tom and Kevin Welch to gain the first down.

Kevin Welch made his only catch of the night by out-jumping his

defender and grabbing the ball for a 35-yard gain. Five plays later,

Tom Welch ran in a 4-yard touchdown off a bootleg.

After David Del Fante made his third of four PATs, the Sea Kings

went up, 21-3.

Tom Welch scored his second touchdown, putting the game out of

reach in the third quarter. Less than two minutes into the second

half, he ran toward the end zone on a broken play. He took a jab

inside and darted back outside before leaning forward to hit the

pylon on a 16-yard TD run.

Though he had two touchdown runs, Tom Welch appeared to be a bit

disappointed with his play.

“I had trouble seeing the field,” said Tom Welch, who rushed for

45 yards on five carries. “Those were broken plays. I didn’t see the

open receivers. Sometimes it’s hard seeing the field, but I’m getting

better.”

The Sea Kings play at La Habra, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the final

tuneup before Pacific Coast League play.