Righting the ship

Patrick Laverty

With two games remaining in the regular season, the possibilities for

Corona del Mar High’s football team are plentiful.

The Sea Kings (5-3, 2-1 in Pacific Coast League play) could finish

first, second, third or fourth in league, with any of the first three

options qualifying them for the CIF Southern Section Division IX

playoffs and the latter option likely leaving them out of the

postseason.

The easiest route to the playoffs is simply for Corona del Mar to

win its last two games, beginning with a battle at Tesoro, Friday at

7 p.m.

“It’d be nice to go out and line up and beat a team just to show

that we can do it,” Sea Kings Coach Dick Freeman said.

Coming off a 48-28 victory over Tesoro last season, it doesn’t

sound like too difficult of a task. But fielding seniors for the

first time in school history, Tesoro (6-2, 3-0), ranked No. 5 in

Division IX, is a markedly different team.

Corona del Mar is a different team from just last week, having

lost one of its top two-way players, Wess Presson, to a high ankle

sprain on his first carry in last week’s loss to Northwood. He will

not play this week and was still on crutches Tuesday, meaning he

could miss the regular season finale against University.

Austin Brawner, who along with sophomore Brett Crowley has split

carries with Presson this season, will start at tailback, with

Freeman likely using junior Zach Wishengrad as a fullback. Junior

David Del Fante will start at cornerback.

But the onus won’t fall on those two players alone, rather the

entire team will need to pick up its effort to defeat a Tesoro team

that has scored at least 26 points in each of its three league games.

The Sea Kings have scored more than 26 points just twice this

season, but showed once again last week the ability to break a big

play. Junior quarterback Tom Welch threw his third touchdown pass

longer than 70 yards against Northwood and all three of them have

been to different receivers.

Those receivers -- Kevin Welch, Shane Collins and tight end Tyler

Lance -- will need to make plays again against Tesoro.

As will a defense that allowed 401 yards to Northwood last week.

Like the Timberwolves, Tesoro has a balanced attack that features two

backs that have rushed for more than 500 yards and a quarterback that

has thrown for more than 1,000.

Robert Catalano (523 yards, five touchdowns) and Evan Handa (503

yards, five touchdowns) lead the rushing attack. While quarterback

Nick Nelson (103 of 170 passing for 1,292 yards) often looks for

Erick Hamren (30 catches for 438 yards) and Scott McKnight (34

catches for 426 yards).

The Titans are also similar to Northwood on defense, though,

Freeman said, they might be even more aggressive while playing the 46

defense.

“Tesoro will come at you a little more,” Freeman said. But the Sea

Kings should still benefit from seeing similar defensive schemes in

successive weeks.

“I hope so,” Freeman said. “These next two games, we’re just going

to see a lot of guys at the line of scrimmage.”