High School Football: CdM QB Garbers throws 6 TDs ... in the first half

TUSTIN — There is something about playing Beckman High that brings out the best in Corona del Mar quarterback Chase Garbers.

A year ago against the Patriots, three quarters is all Garbers needed to throw six touchdowns, setting a CdM single-game record.

After the first half in this year’s meeting with the Patriots, Garbers matched his mark.

The Cal-bound senior fired six touchdowns before halftime, more than enough to put away the host Patriots early on Thursday night at Tustin High. The Sea Kings rolled to a 55-17 win to remain undefeated in the Pacific Coast League.

The win marked CdM’s 22nd in a row in league play. Ten of those victories have come with Garbers as the starting quarterback.

Garbers completed 13 of 19 passes for 240 yards, all in the first half. Through seven games, he has thrown 24 touchdowns.

“Just take what they give you,” Garbers said has been the reason for his success.

What the Patriots gave Garbers was single coverage to his outside wide receivers.

“We’re going to chuck it if we’re going to get man-to-man,” CdM Coach Dan O’Shea said.

Garbers was successful most of the time he aired it out.

The lone mistake by Garbers came with less that seven minutes left before halftime, when defensive back Andrew Alejandrino picked him off. The interception was Garbers’ first of the year. He had attempted 182 passes before turning the ball over.

While Beckman came up with the turnover, it also gave the ball away too many times to CdM (6-1, 2-0 in league) in Patriot territory. The Sea Kings recovered an onside kick and a fumble in the opening quarter, both led to touchdowns by Garbers, and they took over on downs twice in the second quarter, one resulted in a touchdown by Garbers.

The last Beckman (3-4, 1-1) turnover on downs allowed Garbers to get his sixth touchdown right before halftime. The Sea Kings started just inside the opponent’s 30-yard line, and three plays later, Garbers found wide receiver Billy Shaw for a 26-yard touchdown.

Two receivers — TaeVeon Le and Shaw — and two running backs — JT Murphy and Jaydin Moses — hauled in touchdowns from Garbers. Le has been Garbers’ top threat, and the two hooked up four times, three of those for touchdowns.

The Sea Kings, ranked No. 4 in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 poll, take their offensive show home next week to Jim Scott Stadium. The contest with University was supposed to be for the league championship, but with Beckman edging the Trojans, 24-21, in the league opener last week, CdM is the league’s only unbeaten team.

“Big game,” O’Shea said of the one with University. “It was a hell of game last year [for three quarters]. We’re going to have our hands full next week.”

No team has been able to figure out how to knock off CdM since Beckman last did it five years ago.

University has lost to the Sea Kings in each of the past six years. The Trojans (5-1, 0-1) have a date with Northwood (1-5, 1-0) on Friday, and it’s a must-win for them if they plan to stay in contention.

The Sea Kings are the hands-down favorites to claim their fifth undefeated league crown. They have been on a tear during their six-game winning streak, as the Sea Kings are averaging 44.8 points per game.

The defense continues to do its part. The only first-half points CdM gave up came on a 26-yard field goal by Liam Molina midway through the opening quarter. A muffed punt set up the Beckman score.

Cameron Kormos stopped the Patriots from finding the end zone, as the cornerback broke up a slant. Teddy Barber harassed quarterback Dean Nagle in the first half, sacking him three times.

Through two quarters, Beckman totaled only 25 rushing yards and 66 passing yards.

Murphy almost tripled the Patriots’ yards on the ground on his first carry in the second half. Garbers came out for the team’s first offensive series, only needing to hand it off once.

The offense began on its 31, and No. 31 ripped a 69-yard touchdown run on first down. Murphy’s score made it 48-3 CdM a couple of minutes into the third quarter.

At this point, Garbers’ evening was over. For the third time in as many weeks, Garbers enjoyed watching his backup, Nathaniel Espinoza, throw a second-half touchdown.

“Whenever he fumbles the snap,” Garbers said of Espinoza, “it turns into a touchdown.”

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 55, Beckman 17

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CdM 28 – 14 – 13 – 0 — 55

Beckman 3 – 0 – 7 – 7 — 17

FIRST QUARTER

CdM – Le 9 pass from Garbers (Casper kick), 9:32.

B – Molina 23 FG, 6:24.

CdM – Murphy 25 pass from Garbers (Casper kick), 3:46.

CdM – Le 18 pass from Garbers (Casper kick), 3:02.

CdM – Moses 3 pass from Garbers (Casper kick), 1:14.

SECOND QUARTER

CdM – Le 19 pass from Garbers (Casper kick), 10:48.

CdM – Shaw 26 pass from Garbers (Casper kick), 1:33.

THIRD QUARTER

CdM – Murphy 69 run (kick failed), 10:01.

CdM – Prudhomme 32 pass from Espinoza (Glessing kick), 4:16.

B – Mian 7 pass from Nagle (Molina kick), 1:21.

FOURTH QUARTER

B – Lajoie 6 pass from Nagle (Molina kick), 4:52.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CdM – Murphy, 4-88, 1 TD.

B – Akahi, 7-95.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CdM – Garbers, 13-19-1, 240, 6 TDs.

B – Nagle, 15-27-0, 106, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

CdM – Le, 4-55, 3 TDs.

B – Mian, 4-30, 1 TD.