A Newport-Mesa playoff clash

The football teams from Corona del Mar High and Estancia have met 30 times, share the same home stadium and operate within the same district. But it would be difficult to describe their relationship as rivals.

Whatever they think of one another, each represents a roadblock to advancement when they square off tonight at 7 in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs at Newport Harbor High.

The Sea Kings (6-4), having been ranked as high as No. 2 in the division this season, have the higher profile and the richer history. In 20 previous trips to the CIF playoffs, CdM is 16-18, including back-to-back section titles in 1988 (Division IV) and 1989 (Division VI). CdM has advanced to at least the semifinals four times and made it as far as the quarterfinals on eight occasions.

Estancia (7-3) is 3-10 in 10 previous trips to the playoffs, with all its victories coming in the first round. The Eagles have not won a playoff game since 1980.

CdM leads the series with Estancia, 19-8-3, and the Sea Kings have lost to the Eagles only once since 1989, during which time CdM is 6-1-1 against Estancia and has outscored the Eagles, 175-76.

The last meeting, however, a 26-6 nonleague victory by CdM in Week 2 last season, might do more to bolster the confidence of the Eagles than the Sea Kings, according to second-year Estancia Coach Brian Barnes.

“We were only behind, 6-0, at halftime [to CdM last year], Barnes said. “CdM is a good team, but I think we’re a far-superior team than we were when we played them last.”

CdM, meanwhile, isn’t the team it was a month ago. Junior tailback and linebacker Erik Rask sustained a season-ending knee injury in the Sea Kings’ Oct. 20 loss to Laguna Hills, while senior quarterback Taylor Hughes (ruptured bursa sac in his knee) and senior receiver-cornerback Steven Hillgren (sprained ankle) sat out the second half of a 13-12 loss to University in the regular-season finale Nov. 2.

Hughes, a Mater Dei transfer who has thrown for 2,016 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, has twice had the knee drained and was able to rest during the Sea Kings’ bye week last week. He is expected to start, but any blow to the knee could generate rapid fluid buildup that would affect his mobility, Freeman said.

Though senior Tom Folks has stepped in at tailback and rushed for 206 of his 294 yards this season in the final two games, the Sea Kings will rely upon Hughes and a talented corps of receivers to carry the offense.

“We’re still struggling run-wise,” said CdM Coach Dick Freeman, whose team has averaged 208 yards per game through the air and just more than 119 on the ground. “To stay in the ballgame, we’re going to have to be able to throw.”

Hughes’ favorite target is Hillgren (34 catches for 597 yards and six TDs), while Hunt Rychel, Ford Noe and Ali Meshkin have combined for 53 receptions for 946 yards.

The Estancia defense, however, has been effective against the pass. The Eagles have 19 interceptions, paced by Edgar Vargas (five) and Brian Harriman (four), and have surrendered just fewer than 78 yards per game through the air.

“We hope teams try to throw on us a little, because our defense has done a great job against the pass,” Barnes said.

The 19 interceptions have helped the Eagles build a plus-10 turnover margin.

CdM’s defense has also been solid this season. Despite the loss of Rask, whose 109 tackles are still 17 more than the No. 2 tackler (Folks), the Sea Kings have allowed just 15.6 points per game and the team is plus-three in turnover margin.

The Estancia offense has displayed impressive balance. The running game, led by senior tailback Rafael Alejandre (1,060 yards and seven TDs on 193 carries) has produced 1,925 yards.

Junior quarterback Mike Morley has thrown for 1,322 yards and 13 TDs to help the Eagles’ produce 1,523 yards through the air.

The Eagles’ leading receiver is senior Matt Redding, who has 44 catches for 990 yards and 10 TDs.

Morley has completed 80 of 157 with 10 interceptions.

Hillgren, who has seven interceptions this season and a school record 16 for his career, would typically be assigned to cover Redding. But the status of Hillgren’s ankle could affect that tactic.

Hughes, who missed two games with a sore shoulder, is 111 for 177 with 10 interceptions.

Both coaches said turnovers could be the deciding factor.

“We have an opportunity to win, but we have to play perfect and not make mistakes,” said Barnes, whose team finished second in the Orange Coast League.

“We need to move the ball and hang onto it,” said Freeman, whose team tied for second in the Pacific Coast League. “When we’ve hung onto it, we’ve done well.”

CdM defeated Garden Grove, 28-7, in the Division IX first round last season to claim its first playoff win since 1995.

Estancia advanced to the playoffs last season as the fourth-place team from the Golden West League and was trounced in the Division VII first round by Santa Fe, 58-7.

Tonight’s winner will advance to meet either No. 2-seeded Western (6-4) or Cypress (8-2) in next week’s quarterfinals.