OC Sports Zone Kickoff 2019: Corona del Mar wants another shot at a CIF crown

Corona del Mar coach Dan OShea with some of his top players (from right) John Humphreys, Thomas Bouda, Ethan Garbers and Mark Redman. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Corona del Mar High coaches and players have one goal in mind: to get back to the CIF finals and bring home a state crown this year.

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Corona del Mar, 11-2-1 overall a year ago, reached the CIF Division 4 finals before losing to Grace Brethren 26-14 in the championship game. The Sea Kings shared the Sunset League crown with Los Alamitos. Both teams were 4-0-1.

This year, Grace Brethren and CdM both move up to Division 3 for the playoffs. Coach Dan OShea is optimistic about his squad, which has 10 starters returning on offense. Six starters return on defense.

“Every day we walk out of the tunnel our goal is to chase the ring and it’s why we wake up every day we hope to be in the hunt this year against an extremely competitive CIF division,” said OShea, entering his fifth year as head coach.

“Our goal is to win a Sunset League, CIF and state title and provide the single best high school football experience possible for our student athletes.”

CdM is led by three outstanding seniors: quarterback Ethan Garbers, who passed for 4,135 yards and 55 touchdowns last year; wide receiver John Humphreys, who had 103 catches for 1,783 yards and 28 touchdowns and tight end Mark Redman who had 54 catches for 598 yards and nine touchdowns.

Senior Bradley Schlomm, who had 72 catches for 1,138 yards and 10 touchdowns, is also back.

Junior offensive and defensive lineman Thomas Bouda is another key player for the Sea Kings.

Humphreys said the Sea Kings are all aiming for the same goal.

“We have a lot of guys back on offense so we’re excited about that,” Humphreys said. “We definitely know what it takes to get there. I was there my freshman year and we were there last year. That’s our one goal as a team is to get back to the CIF finals and win one this year.”

“Our one goal is to get back in the CIF championship and winning that one and getting a ring and trying to become state champs,” Garbers said.

CdM opens the season Friday night, hosting Downey at Newport Harbor.

Tentative offensive starters

Ethan Garbers, QB; senior; John Humphreys, WR, senior; Bradley Schlomm, WR, senior; Simon Hall, WR, senior; Mark Redman, TE, senior; Jason Vicencio, RB, junior; Thomas Bouda, OL, junior; Tanner Tomlinson, OL, senior; Vinny Provenza, OL, senior; Jake Trachtman, OL, junior; Hunter Schimmelpfennig, OL, junior; Max Farzine, TE, senior.

Tentative defensive starters

Tommy Griffin, safety, junior; Chandler Fincher, CB, senior; Ryder Haupt, CB, junior; Zack Green, S, senior; Cole Rener, LB, senior; Mason Gecowets. LB, senior; Chase Zanck, LB, senior; Luke Sullivan, LB, senior; Brock Preston, DL, junior; Connor Brooks , DL, junior; Carter Duss, DL, senior; Max Farzine, DL, senior.

Special teams

Returners: Chandler Fincher, Tommy Griffin and Bradley Schlomm; punter Matthew Neiger; kicker Dane Voorhees.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com