High School Football: CdM runs to victory
NEWPORT BEACH — Cayman Carter was rarely standing still on offense Friday night for the Corona del Mar High football team.
The senior quarterback scrambled to pass at Davidson Field. Just as often, he scrambled to run.
But he did not scramble to find an answer after the game, when asked the key to the offense’s success in CdM’s 40-20 win over University in the Pacific Coast League opener for both teams.
“The whole O-line had a heck of a game,” Carter said. “They’ve been blowing guys up. It’s easy to run when you have a wide-open lane to run in.”
Nick Storm, Brett Olson, Giovanni Gentosi, Michael Martinez and Ian Redman were the linemen opening up holes for the Sea Kings all night, en route to 278 yards on the ground.
Carter, who also threw for two touchdowns to senior Troy Reese, had 150 yards rushing and two scores as well.
“I like to run,” Carter said. “I guess this game I had to run a little more, and it was open.”
Corona del Mar (4-2), ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division, also got a standout game from senior running back Kai Wilson (123 yards and a touchdown). Both Wilson and Carter scored rushing touchdowns on the Sea Kings’ first two possessions, as CdM staked itself to a 13-0 advantage after the first quarter.
University (2-3-1), No. 6 in the Southern Division, responded with a three-yard touchdown run by junior Chase Alibrando. And, after a 38-yard field goal by CdM kicker Grif Amies gave the Sea Kings a 16-7 advantage, the Trojans appeared ready to further narrow the deficit late in the first half. Kevin Brown’s hard hit on a punt return caused a fumble, giving the Trojans the ball at their own 45-yard line.
But momentum changed. Three plays later, CdM cornerback Ryan Griffin intercepted a pass over the middle. Carter then led a two-minute offense down the field in a hurry, capping the drive on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Reese.
A short kickoff was recovered by CdM’s Robbie Hoffman, giving the Sea Kings the ball back at the University 30-yard line with 10 seconds left. A play later, Amies booted a 32-yard field goal to give the Sea Kings a 26-7 halftime advantage.
Carter was sacked just once in the game and rarely hurried.
“Cayman had some big runs, Kai had some big runs and Cole Martin had some big runs,” CdM Coach Scott Meyer said. “It was nice to see our running game going so well.”
Justin Hess also had a fumble recovery deep in CdM territory in the fourth quarter. The Trojans got within 33-20 on an eight-yard touchdown run by Alibrando, but the ensuing onside kick was recovered by CdM with 4:08 to play.
Carter took off from midfield on a 50-yard touchdown run on the next play, following a block from Olson.
The Sea Kings play host to Northwood on Friday.
“There’s still a lot we can work on, but this does give us confidence,” Carter said. “We were worried about Uni this week, and we’re worried about Northwood next week. Our goal is a PCL championship and a CIF championship, but right now our goal is to beat Northwood.”
Twitter: @mjszabo
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Pacific Coast League
Corona del Mar 40, University 20
SCORE BY QUARTERS
University 0 – 7 – 7 – 6 — 20
Corona del Mar 13 – 13 – 7 – 7 — 40
FIRST QUARTER
CdM – Wilson 2 run (kick failed), 8:44.
CdM – Carter 6 run (Amies kick), 3:25.
SECOND QUARTER
Uni – Alibrando 3 run (Del Rio kick), 9:50.
CdM – Amies 38 FG, 7:29.
CdM – Reese 15 pass from Carter (Amies kick), 0:14.
CdM – Amies 32 FG, 0:00.
THIRD QUARTER
Uni – Aminzadeh 30 pass from Martin (Del Rio kick), 5:31.
CdM – Reese 10 pass from Carter (Amies kick), 2:32.
FOURTH QUARTER
Uni – Alibrando 8 run (pass failed), 4:08.
CdM – Carter 50 run (Amies kick), 3:52.
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING
Uni – Alibrando, 24-132, 2 TDs.
CdM – Carter, 13-150, 2 TDs; Wilson, 15-123, 1 TD.
INDIVIDUAL PASSING
Uni – Martin, 8-12-1, 114, 1 TD.
CdM – Carter, 11-17-0, 143, 2 TDs.
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING
Uni – Aminzadeh, 2-51, 1 TD.
CdM – Reese, 5-79, 2 TDs.
