Sea Kings fight to bitter end

NEWPORT BEACH — Erik Rask stood on the sidelines, serene, his helmet in his hand. Behind him, 30 yards away, a sea of blue and gold continued to celebrate.

Not a hint of emotion on his face from the crushing end for his Corona del Mar High football team that transpired only minutes earlier. No smiles for the game he just played, the six tackles for loss or no gain, the safety and a sack.

The game did not end with the result he wanted, a 20-yard field goal as time expired to seal an 18-16 nonleague victory for El Toro Friday at Newport Harbor High.

But Rask would not have the game any other way, the fate of the team in the hands of the defense.

“Nine times out of 10 they don’t score,” Rask said.

But Friday night at Newport Harbor High was the 10th and the Sea Kings dropped to 1-1.

El Toro, out of timeouts, scrambled to get its field goal team on the field on fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line as the seconds ticked away.

The Sea Kings’ defense had prevented the touchdown, but El Toro only needed a field goal.

“That’s the best game I’ve ever been a part of,” said Rask, a junior who also played running back. “We played great. They came down at the end and made some nice plays.”

Six minutes earlier, Rask’s one-armed sack on second down led a three-and-out and gave the Sea Kings, down, 15-9, hope.

The offense took command of the ball at the 28 after a muffed punt. Miscommunication on a streak pattern led to an incompletion. But the Sea Kings called the same exact play and Hunt Rychel made a leaping catch for a 28-yard touchdown to give the Sea Kings the lead with 4:40 left.

“The first one was my bad,” Rychel said. “The second one, we just clicked. I’ve got to give props to my coach for calling the play.”

Rychel knew then the game was far from over. And, afterward, his demeanor was the same as Rask.

“We were with them the whole game,” said Rychel. “It was a classic ending. One of the most fun games I’ve been a part of. I hate to lose. We don’t put in the hours we do to lose. But we can hold our heads high. We all played well. Everybody on the field, El Toro included. They’re warriors. We’re warriors. Just the ending was unfortunate.”

CdM Coach Dick Freeman was equally disappointed with the outcome, but had words of encouragement for his players.

“We had it; we did enough to win,” Freeman said. “I was extremely happy with our effort. It’s never easy to take. I told them if they play like that every game, we’re gonna be a great team.”

The game was filled with turning points, but everything turned against the Sea Kings in the second half. A drive of nearly five minutes to open the fourth quarter traveled 56 yards, only to end on the El Toro 34-yard line.

The two drives prior both ended in fumbles.

The Sea Kings scored first, plowing down the field in a five minute drive that capped by Tom Folks’ one-yard plunge.