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Football: CdM PCL champs again

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TUSTIN — On Thursday, Corona del Mar High played the last football program to beat the Sea Kings in Pacific Coast League play. The setback to Beckman three years ago cost CdM a league title back then.

Since that loss, CdM hasn’t dropped a league game.

The Sea Kings claimed an unprecedented third straight league title, defeating Beckman, 35-13, at Tustin High. With the result, CdM clinched at least a share of the championship.

The Sea Kings (8-1, 4-0 in league) have reeled off 14 consecutive league victories. The top-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division poll can close out league perfect for the third straight season next week on the road against Northwood.

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“We got a share of it now,” CdM Coach Scott Meyer told his players. “One more.”

In that one game left in league, Meyer wants to see his team play with a little more emotion. Other than that, he likes where his team is at this moment in the season, with the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoffs around the corner.

The Sea Kings are healthier, seeing starting quarterback Peter Bush and starting tailback Cole Martin return. They missed the past two games after Bush injured his ankle and Martin suffered a concussion in the league opener on Oct. 10.

Bush looked a bit rusty against Beckman, completing only half of his 12 passes for 38 yards, while rushing for a two-yard touchdown. His backup, Chase Garbers, continued to perform at a high level, completing nine of 11 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns.

“We knew all along that, you know, he could be a really good quarterback,” Meyer said of Garbers, who completed 81% of passes for 399 yards and six touchdowns in the two games with Bush out of action. “We were trying to get him in some of those games early on [in the season]. Since Peter went down, he’s stepped in and he’s done a really good job for us.

“[Bush has] been out a few weeks, but, you know, we still we have a lot of faith in him.”

Martin also showed he has fresh legs this late in the season. The senior rushed 15 times for 99 yards and one touchdown. With Jaydin Moses out for the year with a foot injury, CdM will need Martin to win a fourth straight section title.

The Sea Kings keep making history. The road to a historic three-peat in league began with the defense harassing Beckman’s quarterbacks. Defensive end Parker Chase registered a sack on the game’s opening drive, forcing a quick three-and-out.

Hess joined in on the fun of pressuring the second quarterback Beckman featured, dropping him at the line of scrimmage. Hess also stuffed a run for no gain, while linebacker Hugh Crance hit the intended receiver on a third-down pass, and the ball fell incomplete.

The Sea Kings didn’t have to go far on their third drive of the game. They started on the Patriots’ 20-yard line after the punter’s ball traveled eight yards. The offense went to Martin, who collected four first downs in the first quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, Martin punched it in from the one to help put the Sea Kings ahead, 14-0. A little more than a minute later, CdM’s offense returned to the field.

The Patriots couldn’t get a punt off. A bad snap forced the punter to fall on the ball on the Patriots’ 17. Garbers produced the Sea Kings’ third touchdown. He even caught his own pass, which a defender tipped, but there was Garbers to catch it near the sideline.

Four plays later, Garbers completed a pass to someone other than himself. He found wide receiver Bo St. Geme wide open for a seven-yard touchdown.

The Sea Kings lost their shutout with 68 seconds left in the first half. They allowed Dean Nagle to hook up with receiver Logan Garrick for a 49-yard touchdown. Although CdM was unable to blank an opponent for the second straight time, it blocked the extra-point attempt.

The defense continued to punish Beckman in the second half. Chase collected his second sack, giving him 14 for the year, and fellow defensive end Harrison Carter produced his second sack of the game, while defensive tackle Mat Flores recorded a sack.

There wasn’t much in the way of offense for the Patriots (4-5, 1-3). The Sea Kings allowed only 35 rushing yards, a yard per carry.

Garbers almost outgained Beckman’s quarterbacks by himself. Helping his cause was a 66-yard touchdown strike to receiver Dylan Tucker early in the third quarter. The other score came in the fourth quarter, on a 29-yard pass to receiver Cole Collins, giving CdM a 35-6 lead.

The Sea Kings beat Beckman for the third year in a row in league. Since losing to Beckman, 42-37, on Nov. 11, 2001, CdM has outscored the Patriots, 109-20, in league.

“There was a little rivalry [with the Patriots],” Meyer said, “but we’ve done pretty well against them the last few years.”

Corona del Mar 35, Beckman 13

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CdM 7 – 14 – 7 – 7 — 35

Beckman 0 – 6 – 0 – 7 — 13

FIRST QUARTER

CdM – Bush 2 run (Neiger kick), 8:27.

SECOND QUARTER

CdM – Martin 1 run (Neiger kick), 11:55.

CdM – St. Geme 7 pass from Garbers (Neiger kick), 9:41.

B – Garrick 49 pass from Nagle (kick blocked), 1:08.

THIRD QUARTER

CdM – Tucker 66 pass from Garbers (Neiger kick), 10:58.

FOURTH QUARTER

CdM – Collins 29 pass from Garbers (Neiger kick), 4:14.

B – Garrick 42 pass from Manber (Valerio kick), 2:18.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CdM – Martin, 15-99, 1 TD.

B – Morrow, 13-39.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CdM – Garbers, 9-11-0, 159, 3 TDs.

B – Nagle, 7-12-0, 94, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

CdM – Tucker, 3-95, 1 TD.

B – Garrick, 3-99, 1 TD.

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