Sea Kings’ Rask back, ready to go

Erik Rask wears No. 13 for the Corona del Mar High football team.

He’s donned that jersey for the last three seasons for the Sea Kings.

But this year, the senior inside linebacker hopes to be not quite so unlucky.

Rask tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Laguna Hills last October. The Sea Kings went on to lose the game to the Hawks, 26-20, and Laguna Hills went on to win the Pacific Coast League title.

Rask, who was the Sea Kings’ leading tackler with 109 before the injury, was the only sophomore on the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team two years ago as an outside linebacker.

He was also the team’s leading running back last year before the injury, rushing for 381 yards and four touchdowns. But CdM Coach Dick Freeman said Rask won’t play much offense this year.

“He’s running full speed, but we’re taking him slowly,” Freeman said. “The strength is what he’s got to get back. He’s working his way into it.”

The plan is for Rask (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) to stick to causing nightmares for opposing running backs, rather than dishing them out himself on offense.

Having Rask back will be a key for the Sea Kings as they attempt to upend Laguna Hills this year, Freeman said. He highlights a dangerous tandem at inside linebacker, along with his twin brother Kevin (6-2, 205) and junior Dutch Lamons (6-0, 185). The three inside ‘backers are part of CdM’s eight returners on defense in their 3-5-3 formation.

“Erik’s just a big leader as far as our defense goes,” Freeman said. “Just having him out there helps. It makes everyone better.”

Rask and Corona del Mar are already looking toward the rematch against Laguna Hills, scheduled for Oct. 19 at Newport Harbor High. It will be just the second league game for CdM and the league opener for Laguna Hills, but will likely be another crucial game toward determining this year’s Pacific Coast League champion.

“One of the big deals is to win the league,” Freeman said. “I think the No. 1 team is Laguna Hills, so we need to beat them. We thought we had a shot at it [last year], then we lost both our inside linebackers so that didn’t help out. We figure that’s what we’re looking at. That’ll put us in the playoffs and in a good position.”

Returning on the defensive line for the Sea Kings are defensive ends Ben Noe (6-1, 205) and Stephen Deverian (5-11, 195), as well as noseguard Dan DiChiro (5-9, 185). Deverian is a senior, and Noe and DiChiro are both juniors.

Junior Noah Molnar (6-1, 200), who played some cornerback last year, will help out at outside linebacker, as will fellow juniors Will Ham (6-2, 200) and Max Haase (6-2, 200). The trio is battling for a pair of starting spots.

Sands is also a returner in the secondary.

The Sea Kings have just three returning starters on offense: senior tight end Ali Meshkin (6-5, 225) and senior linemen Max Prescott (6-4, 220) and James McKennon (6-2, 200). But Freeman said that should leave plenty of opportunities for others to step up.

Senior Hunter Alder (6-0, 195) and junior Mitch Sands (6-0, 170) are battling it out for the quarterback spot. Last year, both backed up Taylor Hughes, who is now at Orange Coast College. When Hughes was out in midseason with a sore shoulder, Alder stepped in for victories over South El Monte and Villa Park.

It’s the kind of thing Freeman likes to see, especially since he’s wearing a new hat this year. After former offensive coordinator Brent Melbon left after one season, Freeman will be both the team’s offensive and defensive coordinator. But new quarterbacks coach Brandon Akiyama will handle much of the offensive play calling, as will coach Scott Uhl on the defensive side, so Freeman definitely has some help.

“Brandon and Scott will call a lot of the plays,” Freeman said.

Corona del Mar opens the season Friday at 7 p.m. at former PCL foe Laguna Beach.

The Sea Kings begin their hunt for a Pacific Coast League title on Oct. 11 against Beckman, at Tustin High.