FOOTBALL NOTES: Season starts soon, former coach returns and busy Thursdays ahead

(Photo Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Corona del Mar High School football coach Dan O’Shea, like many other coaches, is preparing his squad for the season opener next week.

The Sea Kings host Downey on Friday, Aug. 19 at Newport Harbor in the season opener.

“It’s funny, as soon as you put the pads on you say, ‘I wish we had another week or eight days,’ it happens fast and furious,” O’Shea said after a CdM intrasquad scrimmage last week. “The kids had a solid scrimmage today. I look forward to seeing Tesoro (this week) with our traditional scrimmage with them. It comes fast and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Rick Gibson returning to help out Woodbridge

Former Woodbridge High School head football coach Rick Gibson said that he will be returning to the program to help out head coach Aaron Craver.

Gibson added Thursday that he is returning as athletic drector replacing Brian Walsh, who accepted the athletic director position at Corona del Mar.

“Retirement is awesome however I am going to coach again at Woodbridge,” Gibson said. “I am going to be working with the offensive line. John Halagan and I decided to help Aaron out. We are both excited to help however and whenever we can.”

Halagan retired a couple years ago as a teacher and as head varsity boys basketball coach. Halagan will help coach the quarterbacks, Gibson said.

Woodbridge opens the season on Friday, Aug. 19 in a nonleague game vs. Northwood at Portola.

Busy Thursday night schedules for football teams

With so many Orange County teams sharing stadiums, a number of teams will be playing games on Thursday night.

Santa Ana High School, coached by Charlie TeGantvoort, will play its first four games on Thursday night, starting with its opener on Thursday, Aug. 18 vs. Long Beach Millikan at Santa Ana Stadium. Santa Ana also has a Thursday night league game vs. Saddleback on Thursday, Oct. 13 at Segerstrom.

Mater Dei and Santa Ana share the Santa Ana Stadium and part of the reasoning for the abundance of Thursday games is that Mater Dei gets first priority this year for usage of the bowl, according to Santa Ana Athletic Director Brian Lillie.

Coach Rick Feldman’s Cypress team is scheduled to play six of 10 games on Thursday night, including its first home game vs. San Juan Hills on Thursday, Aug. 25.

Calvary Chapel, which plays its home games at Segerstrom High School, has five Thursday night games. The Eagles, coached by Jack McInally, have a home game on Friday, Aug. 19 vs. Carpenteria and then host Capo Valley Christian on Thursday, Aug. 25.

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