Sea Kings avoid upset

IRVINE — You have to go all the way back 22 years for the last time Corona del Mar High stood at 6-1. That same year, in the following football game, the Sea Kings lost.

The Sea Kings almost experienced the same fate Thursday night. They didn't let history repeat itself.

Oh, did they come close to getting upset.

The top-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division survived, coming from behind to beat Woodbridge, 31-30, and remain undefeated in Pacific Coast League play.

The Sea Kings (7-1, 3-0 in league) haven't dropped their last eight league contests dating back to last year, when they won the league crown.

The Warriors (3-5, 0-3) got two cracks to become the first team to end CdM's unbeaten streak in league. With three seconds left, Donald Jackson attempted a potential 35-yard game-winning field goal.

The kick stood no chance as it went wide right. The Sea Kings began to celebrate on the field as time expired, throwing their helmets in the air.

It was premature as one referee flagged CdM for a running-into-the kicker penalty. The game cannot end on a defensive penalty. With no time on the clock, Jackson had another chance, this time from five yards closer.

The 30-yard field-goal attempt was no good and the Sea Kings were now able to toss those helmets wherever they wished. The Sea Kings are off to their best start since 1988, when they went on to win a section crown.

The first objective is claiming a second straight league title. Championship teams pull out these nail biters.

In Coach Scott Meyer's first year at the helm, CdM has shown it can win the close games and win big.

The latest decision was a huge one. The Sea Kings rallied from a 30-10 deficit midway through the third quarter.

While they failed to keep running back Derek Calderon (235 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries) in check, the Sea Kings knocked out Woodbridge's starting quarterback, Matt Callahan.

Callahan left the game after Cole Cottrell returned a 50-yard punt for a touchdown. Someone laid out Callahan, the punter, near the CdM sideline, allowing Cottrell to spring loose and cut the Warriors' lead to 30-24 with 1:42 left in the third quarter.

With Callahan on the sideline on crutches, Woodbridge had no pass attack.

The Sea Kings did with Brent Lawson, who threw two touchdown passes to wide receiver Josh Giger (six catches for 141 yards). The biggest was a 72-yard strike with 7:11 left in the fourth quarter that gave CdM a 31-30 lead, its first advantage of the night.