CdM first of area teams to hit practice field

Zero week doesn’t exist for some high school football teams. But for four out of five Newport-Mesa programs, zero week exists in a big way, as local coaches choose to take advantage of the scheduling flexibility the extra week offers.

As a result, players and coaches alike high-tail it to the practice field this week, as their season openers are dangerously close.

Corona del Mar, Estancia, Costa Mesa and Sage Hill all scheduled zero-week games for Sept. 1.

Zero week is the period formerly reserved for scrimmages. But two seasons ago, a change initiated by CIF Southern Section league representatives made it possible to schedule a regular-season game in that period, essentially, giving schools 11 weeks to play 10 regular-season games.

Teams that play during zero week forfeit the right to play a scrimmage.

Corona del Mar’s bye week falls on the last week of the regular season. If the Sea Kings make the playoffs, they’ll have a two-week rest under their belts.

Costa Mesa will be off on week six and Estancia has a bye in week seven, right before it embarks on its first campaign in the newly created Orange Coast League.

“That allows us an extra week of rest heading into our league games,” Estancia Coach Brian Barnes said. “And an extra week of preparation.”

Sage Hill is off in week three.

Newport Harbor is the only local team not to start its season during zero week. The Sailors will scrimmage Foothill on Sept. 1 at 3:15 p.m. at Newport Harbor.

The Tars open their season Sept. 8 at Aliso Niguel.

Corona del Mar, coming off a 6-6 season, opens with two-a-day practices today in preparation for its zero-week clash against former Pacific Coast League foe Laguna Beach at Newport Harbor High.

Last year, the Sea Kings earned their first playoff victory since 1995, a 28-7 triumph over Garden Grove in the first round of CIF Southern Section Division IX action. They then nearly upset No. 2-seeded La Habra in the quarterfinals, but lost, 8-7.

The Sea Kings are chomping at the bit after nearly advancing to the CIF semifinals. Coach Dick Freeman’s team will practice at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Each team’s first three days of practice are considered their conditioning period. After three days of practicing without full pads, they may don full gear the fourth day of practice.

Costa Mesa, which went 2-8 last season, opens practice Wednesday.

The Mustangs enter the 2006 season with their fourth coach in four years in Jeremy Osso.

The Mustangs, who have not been to the playoffs since 2002 and have not won a playoff game since 1997, open their season against Savanna at La Palma Park in Anaheim.

Osso said instead of two-a-days, the Mustangs will have one long practice each day.

Costa Mesa moved from the Golden West League to the newly formed Orange Coast League this season. The league also boasts Estancia, Calvary Chapel, Laguna Beach and Godinez, which will not field a varsity football team.

Estancia was 2-9 last year, but made the playoffs under first-year coach Brian Barnes by virtue of defeating Costa Mesa for the fourth and final playoff spot out of the Golden West League.

The Eagles look to turn the corner under their second-year coach, who gets the team started with two-a-days on Wednesday.

Estancia plays its zero-week game at Orange Coast College against Mark Keppel.

Sage Hill, which made school history by winning its first playoff game last year, opens practice this week in preparation for its Sept. 1 zero-week home game against St. Genevieve.

The reigning CIF Division VI champion Sailors have a huge challenge ahead this season. Newport Harbor moves from the Sea View League to the Sunset League and to Division I.

The Sunset League, one of the toughest leagues in the Southern Section, also includes Edison, Esperanza, Los Alamitos, Fountain Valley and Marina.