Corona del Mar wide receiver Russell Weir makes a catch to extend the Sea Kings drive in the second quarter as Huntington Beach linebacker Nicholas Loboda pursues. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
As Corona del Mar and Huntington Beach High football teams reach the midway point of their league schedules, each game grows in intensity and importance. Friday’s Sunset League matched two teams with identical 5-2 records with the CIF playoffs looming.
CdM (6-2, 2-1) took a major step forward as quarterbacks David Rasor and Kaleb Annett combined to throw for 388 yards and six touchdown passes – three to Cooper Hoch and two to Russell Weir – to lead the Sea Kings to a 50-7 victory over the Oilers at Huntington Beach.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
CdM receiver Jack Loucks is tackled by Huntington Beach linebacker Nathan Tauanuu in the second quarter of the game.
CdM wide receiver Russell Weir tries to shake off linebacker Nicholas Loboda.
Huntington Beach receiver Musashi Ray is closed up by a contingent of Corona del Mar defenders.
Injured teammate Trent Merriman supports the Sea Kings on Friday night.
Huntington Beach receiver Musashi Ray returns a kickoff during the second quarter of the game.
Corona del Mar defensive players congratulate No. 12 Michael Lynch after making a one-hand interception in the second quarter of the game against Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach running back Tyler Young is tackled by CdM's linebacker Mason Kubichek.
Corona del Mar football coach Dan O'Shea looks on during a timeout by the Sea Kings.
Huntington Beach running back Tyler Young is pursued by CdM's linebacker Mason Kubichek.
Corona del Mar receiver Cooper Hoch hands the official the football after scoring one of his multiple touchdowns.
Huntington Beach fans cheer for their team on Friday night.
Corona del Mar running back Colin Pene gains yardage for the Sea Kings.
Corona del Mar's running back Colin Pene gains yardage for the Sea Kings.
Corona del Mar quarterback David Rasor takes off for a run.
Corona del Mar running back Colin Pene takes off for a long gain during the first quarter of Friday night's game against Huntington Beach.
Members of the Huntington Beach band dance during a timeout.
Hutington Beach quarterback Daunte Bell drops back to pass.
Huntington Beach head coach Brett Brown looks on during the first quarter of the game.
Corona del Mar enters the field for Friday night's contest against Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach receiver Musashi Ray returns the opening kickoff.
Huntington Beach players enter the field for Friday night's contest against Corona del Mar.
Huntington Beach cheerleaders react during the playing of the National Anthem.
Members of the Huntington Beach marching band perform the National Anthem.
Former Corona del Mar quarterback, and current player in UCLA football roster Ethan Garbers, was in attendance to support the Sea Kings.
CdM cheerleaders cheer for their team during Friday's contest.
Huntington Beach captains Ryan Otani, Dylan Weber, Nathan Tauanuu, and Aj Vandermade prepare for the coin toss.
Corona del Mar captains David Rasor, Chase Horton, Mason Kubichek and Christian Brooks get set for the coin toss.
Huntington Beach fans cheer for their team.
Corona del Mar players get ready to enter the field.
Huntington Beach players get ready for Friday night's game.
CdM players make sprints prior to Friday's Sunset League game against Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach head coach Brett Brown smiles before Friday's game.
CDM head coach Dan O'Shea looks on before the game.
CdM head coach Dan O'Shea poses with Huntington Beach head coach Brett Brown prior to Friday's Sunset League matchup.
Huntington Beach ball boys have fun prior to Friday night's contest.
Huntington Beach players enter the field for warm ups before Friday night's game.
“This was a good bounce-back win after losing to Los Al,” said Hoch. “We’re now looking forward to next week’s Battle of the Bay against our city rival Newport Harbor.”
CdM covered 76 yards in eight-plays on its opening possession of the game to take a 7-0 lead. Two plays keyed the scoring drive, the first was a third-down shuffle pass from Rasor to running back Colin Pene that avoided a big loss. On the following play, on fourth-down, Rasor completed an 18-yard TD pass to Hoch.
CdM added three more touchdowns in the second-quarter to take a commanding 29-0 halftime lead.
The duo of Rasor-to-Hoch hooked up two more times in the second-quarter on touchdown passes of 14 and 13 yards as the Sea Kings built a 21-0 lead with 2:22 to play in the half. Annett took over at the helm on the final drive of the second quarter for CdM and promptly led the Sea Kings down field in seven-plays for another touchdown. Annett capped off the drive with a 28-yard TD pass to Weir.
CdM outgained the Oilers 340-108 yards in the opening half. Pene finished the game with 158 yards rushing. Weir and Hoch combined to catch 14 passes for 263 yards.
“The defense, the offense, especially Colin Pene, who had his best game of the season, and our special teams all played exceptional and really clean,” said CdM Coach Dan O’Shea. “We’re getting back to playing the kind of football CdM knows how to play”.
Huntington Beach (5-3, 1-2) moved the ball in the first half, but CdM cornerback Michael Lynch picked off two Daunte Bell passes, foiling a pair of Oilers drives. For good measure, Lynch also blocked a first-half Huntington Beach field goal attempt.
“We’re on a roll; our defense stepped up,” Lynch said. “The interceptions helped stop a couple of their drives, and I got a good jump coming off the edge to block the field goal. We played with a lot of energy.”
Annette added TD passes to Pene and Weir in the second-half. Tyler Young (106 yards rushing) scored on a 63-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for the Oilers.
“We moved the ball but we had trouble finishing,” said Huntington Beach Coach Brett Brown. “We missed a touchdown on our first possession and we had trouble with their passing attack, but we have to come back next week and learn from our mistakes.”
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