CdM’s updated 2021 schedule includes non-league showdown with San Juan Hills

Corona del Mar players take the field for a game last season. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Corona del Mar’s 2021 football schedule, which includes a nonleague game with CIF Division 4 champion San Juan Hills, has been finalized, according to Sea Kings’ Coach Dan O’Shea.

CdM won the CIF Division 3 and Division 1A state title last year.

Mira Costa was 7-4 overall last year.

CIF officials announced a new plan in July moving football tentatively from August 2020 to January 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, schools will need to have in-person instruction and local state and county guidelines will need to be met in order for high school football and other sports to occur.

“In light of the CIF calendar change, we were very fortunate to be able to link up with Mira Costa to replace our original game zero,” O’Shea said. “We are really looking forward to playing them for the first time, along with other new teams on the schedule who have been extremely successful like Paramount and San Juan Hills.

“They join our renewed non-league contests with the ever challenging San Clemente and Palos Verdes football programs. The league and playoff success of these collective teams for the first five games is very impressive.”

CdM is scheduled to open defense of its Sunset League title with a game against Los Alamitos on Feb. 12. CdM won the league crown last year with a 5-0 mark.

“As for the Sunset League, it would be difficult to go back further in history to see the league this balanced with such good teams,” O’Shea said. “From top to bottom there are playoff capable teams and it should prove very competitive amongst all of us under the new playoff format. We are looking forward to the 2021 winter season and seeing this year’s version of the Sea Kings compete against some of the best teams in Southern California.”

2021 CDM FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

(Home games at Newport Harbor)

Thursday, Jan. 7, vs. Paramount (H)

Friday, Jan. 15, vs. Palos Verdes (H)

Friday, Jan. 22, at San Clemente

Friday, Jan. 29, at San Juan Hills

Friday, Feb. 5, vs. Mira Costa (H)

Sunset League schedule

Friday, Feb. 12, at Los Alamitos

Friday, Feb. 19, vs. Huntington Beach (H)

Friday, Feb. 26, at Edison

Friday, March 5, vs. Newport Harbor (H)

Friday, March 12, vs. Fountain Valley (H)

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