Sea Kings hope to bully the Breakers

CdM grid pre vs. Laguna BeachIt has been 41 years since Corona del Mar has lost to Laguna Beach in football.The Beatles were only seven months into their unprecedented string of No. 1 hits, "Fiddler on the Roof" had just opened on Broadway and the Warren Commission report on John F. Kennedy's assassination was about to be released.

And oh, by the way, Laguna Beach defeated Corona del Mar in football.

The year was 1964. Since then, the Sea Kings have met their coastal neighbors 10 times, winning all 10 meetings.

The Sea Kings (3-4, 1-2 in league) -- ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section Division IX -- are counting on extending that streak tonight at 7 in a Pacific Coast League clash with the Breakers at Newport Harbor High.

Laguna Beach (3-2-1, 0-2) is also dealing with a more recent losing streak, having gone winless in its last 13 Pacific Coast League games, including seven straight losses.

A victory would send the Sea Kings into their bye week with some momentum. The Sea Kings could then assure themselves their third trip to the postseason in four years with wins over Beckman (Nov. 4) and University (Nov. 11).

But despite having outscored the Breakers, 192-73, in their six meetings since aligning together in the Pacific Coast League, a victory tonight is anything but a formality for Corona del Mar.

The Sea Kings offense has been outscored by their defense (four touchdowns to three) in the last four games. And the Sea Kings have failed to produce an offensive touchdown in three of those contests.

Last week, the defense provided the lone touchdown in a 32-10 loss at Tesoro, as Steve Hillgren returned an interception 78 yards in the fourth quarter.

Corona del Mar has relied on its ground game, which has nearly doubled its production through the air (1,040 rushing yards to 551 passing).

Freeman said the Sea Kings will need to become more proficient with the pass in order to keep teams from crowding the box with defenders to negate the run.

Freeman said the team did a better job of picking up blitzes against Tesoro, enabling senior quarterback Colin Wigley to complete 5 of 7 passes for 52 yards.

Senior Matt Loyd leads the Sea Kings' ball carriers with 629 rushing yards on 99 carries. Hampered by an ankle injury, however, he has just 132 rushing yards on 28 carries in three league games.

Laguna Beach is led offensively by quarterback Charley Bowman. In two league games, Bowman is 20 of 40 passing for 170 yards and two touchdowns.20051020TU1K2R3KNo Caption