Hughes propels Sea Kings

COSTA MESA — Some say defense wins football games, but on Friday night, Corona del Mar High senior quarterback Taylor Hughes proved that offense can get it done as well.

Hughes accounted for 387 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to lead the Sea Kings to a 41-28 Pacific Coast League victory over visiting Irvine at Orange Coast College.

The 6-foot-2, 176-pound quarterback was 25 of 33 for 329 yards and three scores through the air, while scampering for 58 yards and a TD on the ground.

On a night when both defenses struggled, Hughes took the burden and helped the Sea Kings (6-3, 2-1 in league) have a better shot at determining their fate for a CIF Southern Section Southern Division postseason berth.

Irvine dropped to 6-3, 2-1.

“We were pretty lucky — [Irvine] had a pretty good effort,” Corona del Mar Coach Dick Freeman said. “I thought they did great offensively. We couldn’t figure them out. But our offense did a great job and we wore them down. And our passing game came out really well.”

Hughes and the passing attack came out firing on all cylinders. The Sea Kings took their opening drive 74 yards in six plays, capped with a 52-yard catch and run for a TD by senior wideout Hunt Rychel.

On the Sea Kings’ third drive, senior receiver Steven Hillgren scored on a 27-yard screen pass for a 14-7 lead.

Hillgren led the receiving corps with 11 catches for 139 yards and the TD.

Senior Ford Noe hauled in five catches for 79 yards and Rychel totaled 68 receiving yards.

Sophomore Will Ham accounted for Hughes’ final passing touchdown with a seven-yard score in the third quarter, giving CdM the lead for good.

“It was a big win,” Hughes said. “We came out weak (on defense), but we got away with it. But [the offensive] line did great, gave me time to pass, and our running backs pulled through.”

CdM’s ground game came on strong near the end, helping the Sea Kings move the chains and whittle time off the clock with a 35-21 lead.

Just when it looked like Irvine had a chance, pulling to within 35-28 with 4:01 remaining, senior back Tom Folks popped a 51-yard run for the final score.

Folks finished with 93 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Sea Kings’ ground game, which helped contribute to the 645 total yards CdM amassed.