Two-minute drill

* High schools were given the option of having a bye week during the

season by scheduling a game in the week normally reserved for

scrimmages.

A bye week allows a team to rest and recoup from any injuries. The

benefit of scrimmages is being able to make mistakes in a game

situation without it hurting the team.

The two local high school games in the “zero week” averaged 12

penalties for 121 yards and 10 fumbles.

* There was at least one other noticeable difference in Friday’s

“zero week” game between Corona del Mar and Estancia high schools .

There were no bands for either school playing music.

* The spirit squad turned out in large numbers to support the

Orange Coast College football team in Saturday’s season opener at

Newport Harbor High.

One member of the unit, however, inadvertently brought the game to

a brief hault when, while tending to an electrical cord that appeared

to lead to a boom box, he somehow interrupted power to the

scoreboard, which went black for a few minutes, until power was

restored.

* The Corona del Mar uniforms did not change from last year. The

team decided to spend its money on new digital video-editing

equipment rather than alter its on-field look.

Coach Dick Freeman did, however, pick out new sweat suits and

travel bags for the team.

* OCC defensive end Ricky Miller couldn’t contain his frustration

when he was forced to leave the game after sustaining what Coach Mike

Taylor later said was a contusion caused by a helmet to Miller’s left

knee.

Miller, a 6-3, 245-pounder who played last season at Fresno State,

yelled loudly in disgust after limping to the sideline late in the

second quarter.

Miller returned to the game early after halftime, only to limp off

again and not return.

* In other OCC injury news, Taylor said sophomore quarterback Beau

Budde, who chipped a bone in his right (throwing) ring finger when it

collided with a helmet at an Aug. 28 practice, may not return this

season.

Surgery may be required, Taylor said, which would leave the

quarterbacking chores to sophomore Kyle Basanez and freshman Chad

Schmigel.

* Costa Mesa Coach Tom Baldwin said he was having trouble sleeping

in the weeks leading up to the season opener, but, as the game grew

closer, he was able to fall asleep much easier.

He said dealing with administrative responsibilities left in the

aftermath of the firing of former coach Dave Perkins caused the

restlessness.

* Tyler Legg only had 16 yards rushing in the first half for Costa

Mesa, but a solid second half gave him 82 for the game.

* In the season opener, the Corona del Mar coaching staff wore new

blue stocking caps with “Sea Kings” embroidered in white on the

front. The players wore them during their lift-a-thon in the

off-season.

* While the rest of his coaching staff was attired in tan pants

and white team polo shirts, Estancia Coach Craig Fertig wore a

salmon-colored polo shirt with horizontal gray stripes, red slacks,

and cardinal and tan saddle shoes.

The shoes originally belonged to Fertig’s father, who considered

them lucky when he gave them to his son.

“I guess they’re not so lucky,” Fertig said, noting the 35-14

loss.

He said he will match the other coaches’ outfits the rest of the

season.

* The Estancia football team did not wear decals on its helmets

for the game against CdM.

The seniors lobbied to change the decal from an image of an eagle

to a gold script that says ‘Eagles.’

The new logos were slow to arrive from the manufacturer, but will

be applied before the Magnolia game Thursday.