Football: CdM blanks T-wolves

IRVINE — It seemed somehow fitting that a game with as many punts as points, was, ultimately, all about defending.

Visiting Corona del Mar High controlled Northwood for a 14-0 victory that clinched the Sea Kings’ third straight undefeated league championship campaign Friday night at Irvine High.

The Sea Kings’ title defense, which has included 17 straight wins over PCL opponents including playoffs, will set the stage for a fourth straight run at a CIF Southern Section division crown for Coach Scott Meyer’s squad.

Sophomore quarterback Chase Garbers, who went the distance, as former starter Peter Bush was shifted to tight end, threw for 199 yards and had touchdown runs of 38 and one yards. Both scores were in the second quarter to lead the winners (9-1, 5-0 in league) on offense.

This one, however, was mostly about defense – for both teams.

The CdM defense, which posted its fourth shutout of the season, limited the Timberwolves (7-3, 3-2) to 106 yards total offense on 55 plays. Northwood, which finished third and advances to the CIF Southwest Division playoffs that begin next week, punted eight times.

The Timberwolves drove past the CdM 40-yard line only once, advancing to the 11 before the Sea Kings, ranked No. 1 in the Southwest Division, held on downs with 6:29 left before halftime.

CdM, playing without injured starting defensive tackles Justin Hess and Mat Flores, limited the hosts to 19 yards and two first downs in the final two quarters.

Half of Northwood’s 10 first downs came courtesy of CdM penalties. The Sea Kings were flagged 12 times for 120 yards to help keep the scrappy Timberwolves in it.

Northwood, however, also asserted itself defensively, sacking Garbers four times and producing 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

“It was real good defense on both sides,” Meyer said. “Northwood did a good job and our guys did as well, so it was a defensive battle, I guess.”

In addition to the penalties, one of which nullified a touchdown on a drive that eventually produced CdM’s second score, the Sea Kings left points on the field by failing to connect on four pass plays in which its receivers got behind the secondary.

Two long passes sailed just beyond streaking CdM wideouts, one was just off a receiver’s fingertips, and another was dropped in the end zone. Two more long passes were jarred loose just as they reached CdM receivers, and fell incomplete.

Still, Garbers, who scrambled, fell backward as he threw to avoid oncoming rushers and was consistently flushed out of the pocket or rolled out by design to avoid pursuit, used seven different receivers to complete 16 of 25 passes without an interception.

Garbers twice used jump cuts to avoid three would-be tacklers on his 38-yard scoring sprint to the corner pylon to cap a nine-play, 99-yard drive with 10:47 left in the second quarter.

Garbers, who now has a team-best nine rushing touchdowns, capped a 16-play, 88-yard touchdown drive with a one-yard leap over the pile with 30 seconds left in the first half.

CdM overcame three penalties on its second scoring procession and had eight penalties for 80 yards before intermission.

CdM senior defensive end Parker Chase had two sacks on Northwood’s opening series and the Sea Kings had four sacks among eight tackles for losses. Six additional times, Northwood ballcarriers were downed after earning only one yard.

Chase, who entered the game with a team-best 71 tackles this season, now has 19 sacks this fall, and 35 over the last two campaigns.

Senior end Harrison Carter, senior tackle Brett Davidson, sophomore tackler Teddy Barber, as well as linebackers Hoyt Crance, Carl Donovan and Robby Hoffman were stout against a running attack that produced just 35 yards on 27 attempts.

Cornerbacks Chad Redfearn and Brett Greenlee, as well as safeties Luke Gardner and Barrett Barbato also contributed to taming the Timberwolves’ offense.

“We have to be happy with the league title and we are definitely happy to be 5-0 in league,” Meyer said. “But we dropped some passes and we definitely have to clean up the penalties for next week.”

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Corona del Mar 14, Northwood 0

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CdM 0 – 14 – 0 – 0 – 14

Northwood 0 - 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

SECOND QUARTER

CdM – Garbers 38 run (Neiger kick), 10:47.

CdM – Garbers 1 run (Neiger kick), 0:30.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CdM – Martin, 14-85; Garbers, 16-25, 2 TDs.

NW – Abel 19-19.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CdM – Garbers, 16-25-0, 199.

NW – Abel, 8-17-0, 58.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

CdM – St. Geme, 5-87; Collins, 4-34.

NW – Clyde, 4-21.