CdM defense could set tone

The best offense for the 2007 Corona del Mar High football team may be its stellar defense.

The Sea Kings return eight defensive starters — though not all at the same position — from a team that went 7-5, 2-2 in the Pacific Coast League. CdM beat Estancia in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs before losing in the quarterfinals to Cypress.

CdM, meanwhile, returns just three starters on offense. For 12th-year coach Dick Freeman, what that means is relatively clear.

“It’s going to set the tone,” Freeman said of the Sea Kings’ defense. “We’re really trying to get the offense to just not make mistakes, but I think we have some pretty good people. We’ll be able to throw the football, and we’ve got some good running backs. No star, I don’t think, but people will be able to carry the ball and move the ball. I think we can give people problems offensively, but we need to keep ourselves in the game defensively to start off with.”

Freeman’s defense did that enough last year to help the Sea Kings out late. Although CdM was relatively even throughout the first three quarters in 2006, the Sea Kings outscored their opposition by a combined 102-50 in the fourth quarter of games. CdM was never outscored in the fourth quarter of any contest.

Here’s a position-by-position look at the Sea Kings, who open their season Friday at 7 p.m. at Laguna Beach:

Quarterback: Trying to put points on the board this year for the Sea Kings are quarterbacks Mitch Sands and Hunter Alder. Sands (6-foot, 170 pounds) and Alder (6-0, 195) will be trying to fill the shoes of Taylor Hughes, who threw for 2,204 yards and 22 touchdowns in his senior year last season for CdM.

Freeman had yet to name a starter as of Thursday afternoon.

Alder, a senior, started nonleague wins over South El Monte and Villa Park last season when Hughes, a Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection, was out with a sore throwing shoulder.

“They’re both pretty close,” Freeman said. “Replacing Taylor is going to be tough, but we have some pretty good receivers to throw to. Hunter might be slightly more athletic. He’s a little bigger, has more of an athletic outlook to it. Mitch is a little more systematic. He’s still a pretty good athlete, but I think Hunter relies on it a little more.”

Backups at the position also include sophomores Michael Borchard (6-3, 165) and John Christian (6-2, 160).

Running back: A variety of players are competing at the position, with neither of the top two backs from last year likely back. Tom Folks, who ran for 566 yards and five touchdowns, graduated. Senior Erik Rask (6-2, 210) ran for 381 yards and four touchdowns last season, but is coming off a knee injury suffered last October. Freeman said Rask probably won’t play much offense this year, staying at linebacker on defense instead.

The difference between tailback and fullback will be negligible for CdM, which plans to use a lot of one-back sets. Still, Freeman said seniors Tyler Harmon (6-1, 175) and Ricky Townsend (5-7, 170) will run the ball plenty, as well as sophomores Alex Swigert (6-0, 175) and JD Abbott (6-1, 175).

“We moved Ricky Townsend to a fullback, but he may play some running back, also,” Freeman said. “He’s a pretty strong kid. He’ll be in the backfield.”

Fullbacks include senior Kevin Rask (6-2, 205) and junior Dan DiChiro (5-9, 185).

Receivers: There will also be plenty of people to throw the ball to, even without Newport-Mesa Player of the Year Steven Hillgren, who had 932 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2006 and is now at Georgetown. Junior Noah Molnar (6-1, 200) is a leading candidate to start at wide receiver, as is junior Max Haase (6-2, 200) and Harmon.

“Those three guys are right up there,” Freeman said.

But there are other options, too, including senior Ryan Lanni (5-10, 160) and junior Andy Morrow (6-0, 180).

“Lanni came out from soccer,” Freeman said. “He’s real fast. We’re trying to get him into learning the position. Andy Morrow played volleyball last year. It’s his first year of football. He’s doing real well; he’s got great concentration.”

JP Gormly (5-7, 195), a senior, is also in the mix.

“He’s doing pretty well,” Freeman said.

Tight end: Ali Meshkin is the only projected returning starter on offense who is not a lineman. The senior, who returns at tight end, caught 20 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns last year. Junior Will Ham (6-2, 200) will also see time at the position.

Offensive line: There are also a pair of returners on the offensive line, in seniors Max Prescott (6-4, 220) at tackle and James McKennon (6-2, 200) at guard. Both are three-year starters.

Juniors Brad Dupuie (6-2, 210) and Ben Noe (6-1, 205) should spend time at center and guard, respectively, with senior Stephen Deverian (5-11, 195) and junior Grant Keligian (5-10, 185) also in the mix for a starting spot.

Senior David Dalton (6-2, 197) and junior Sam French are also battling for playing time. At 6-5, 240, French is the biggest lineman on CdM’s roster. Sophomores Michael Parishaian (5-11, 225), Riley Conroy (5-7, 195), Andrew Conger (6-0, 170) and Chris Alvarez (5-11, 165) provide depth, although that’s something Freeman would still prefer was in greater supply.

“They’re all working real hard, but we’re really thin on the offensive line,” Freeman said. “We’ve got like 12 total linemen.”

Defensive line: Returners include DiChiro at noseguard, and Noe and Deverian at end in the Sea Kings’ three-down-linemen formation.

“We also expect Prescott and McKennon to help out in that,” Freeman said. “They’re a couple of our bigger kids. David Dalton is a little bit bigger, too, although he doesn’t have much experience.”

Linebackers: Inside linebacker is a strength as the Sea Kings return both Erik and Kevin Rask, as well as junior Dutch Lamons (6-0, 185). Able backups include Alder, Swigert and sophomore Bret Klein (5-9, 160).

At outside linebacker, Freeman said Molnar, Ham and Haase figure to compete for two starting spots.

Molnar started at cornerback last year, but put on about 20 pounds and so was moved up.

Secondary: The loss of Hillgren, who had nine interceptions last year as part of his school-career-record 18, will also be felt here. But Sands returns and can play either corner or safety, which was another key vacancy left by graduate Charlie Albright. Junior Tyler Haly (6-1, 170) and Harmon will also play the position.

“[Junior] Dillon Norton (5-11, 160) has got a good shot at [cornerback], and Ricky Townsend has a good shot at CB,” Freeman said. “Some of the sophomore kids will help us too; Michael Borchard and John Christian are both doing pretty well DB-wise.”

Another sophomore, Andrew Iverson (5-8, 145), has also been impressive in the secondary.

“He just works really hard,” Freeman said. “He’s a sophomore kid and boy does he try hard. I get a great effort out of him.”

Special teams: This is the final area where Hillgren’s loss will be felt, as he averaged 37 yards per kickoff return last season and scored twice.

However, some speedy sophomores will likely make their mark here for CdM, with Alex Swigert and JD Abbott as leading contenders to return kickoffs and punts. The kicker and punter will also likely be a sophomore, Hunter Lewis (5-10, 195).

Freeman said the plan is for Molnar to be the backup kicker and punter.