Tough task for Sea Kings

Rick Devereux

The fact the Corona del Mar High football team will face an opponent

that was without its projected starting quarterback for much of the

year might give an edge to the Sea Kings in Friday’s opening round of

the CIF Southern Section Division IX playoffs.

CdM travels to play Empire League champion La Habra at 7 p.m.

Friday.

Except La Habra, the No. 3 seed and two-time defending division

champion, finished 7-3 with junior R.J. Benedict under center without

encountering much of a drop in play. Senior J.R. Artozqui did not see

the field for four games.

“They both throw the ball real well,” CdM Coach Dick Freeman said.

“There’s not a whole lot of difference between the two guys.”

Corona del Mar (6-4) had the second-best scoring defense in the

Pacific Coast League, with opponents averaging 18 points this season.

The Highlanders’ offense has averaged 26.5 points per game.

Artozqui and Benedict have combined for close to 1,600 passing yards

with 18 touchdowns between them.

Senior Jesse Quezada has been the main running threat for La

Habra, gaining close to 800 yards on 125 carries.

“Their offensive line is pretty big,” Freeman said. “We need to

realize that we need to play our best in order to stay with these

guys.”

Freeman said the best defense against the Highlanders may be an

effective offense.

“Our offense needs to move the ball and not give up any

turnovers,” he said. “We need some sustained drives to keep their

offense off the field.”

Turnovers and penalties have been a problem for the Sea Kings this

year. CdM was a plus-three in turnover ratio in its six wins and a

minus-three in its four losses.

Corona has also been penalized for 762 yards this season.

“We’re really not a bad team,” Freeman said. “We’ve spotted teams

points in the first half too many times.”

In the Sea Kings’ four losses, opponents have outscored Corona,

30-3, in the first quarter. Only Newport Harbor was able to beat CdM

when the Sea Kings entered halftime with a lead.

CdM averaged more than 23 points in the first half of its six

wins. Opponents were held to fewer than eight points in the first

half of those games.

The Sea Kings lost to Newport Harbor, Valencia, Northwood and

Tesoro. All are playoff teams.

La Habra lost to South Hills, Los Alamitos and Brea Olinda. All

are playoff teams.

CdM beat one playoff-bound team, a 44-28 victory over Troy.

La Habra had victories over Downey, 25-4, Troy, 28-14, Fullerton,

7-3, and Sunny Hills, 28-0. All are playoff teams.

Corona opponents have a combined 54-42-4 record, while teams

playing the Highlanders sport a 52-47-1 record.

Freeman said the key will be to make CdM’s option-oriented offense

create mismatches with La Habra’s defense and force the Highlanders

to make adjustments.

“Our goal is to move them out of [their regular defense] in order

to stop us,” he said. “We want to get them out of their comfort

zone.”