Sea Kings crowned state champions
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Corona del Mar High’s Bo St. Geme (2) dives in for the first touchdown of the game during the first half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Barrett Barbato (7) returns this interception for a touchdown during the first half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Barrett Barbato (7) rushes for a touchdown after intercepting a pass during the first half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Barrett Barbato (7) reacts after a pick-six during the first half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Barrett Barbato (7) is congratulated by teammates Charlie Griffin (3) and Luke Gardner (6) after a pick-six during the first half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Harrison Carter (45) creates a fumble as the tackles Sacred Heart Prep’s Ben Burr-Kirven (25) during the first half in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. Sacred Heart Prep recovered the ball. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Anthony Battista, center, carries the ball defended by Sacred Heart Prep’s Ben Burr-Kirven (25) during the first half in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Sutty Barbato, right, holds on to take down Sacred Heart Prep’s Chris Lee (6) during the first half in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Parker Chase (99) pressures Sacred Heart Prep quarterback Mason Randall (12) for an incomplete pass during the first half in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High quarterback Luke Napolitano (5) throws the ball during the first half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Justin Hess (80) creates a fumble as he tackles Sacred Heart Prep quarterback Mason Randall during the second half in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. The Sea Kings recovered the ball. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Justin Hess (80) reacts after he tackled Sacred Heart Prep quarterback Mason Randall, creating a fumble, during the second half in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Cole Martin, center, carries the ball protected by teammates Brett Olson, far left, Giovanni Gentosi (73) and Michael Pierotti (75) during the second half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Hugh Crance, left, recovers a fumble during the second half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Hugh Crance (22) and teammate Hoyt Crance (54) celebrate after Hugh recovered a fumble during the second half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High kicker Jason Neiger (48) completes a 35-yard field goal during the second half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. The ball was spotted by teammate Cole Collins (9). (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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CARSON, CA, December 21, 2013 -- The Corona del Mar High defense team up to push back Sacred Heart Prep’s John Robert Hardy, far right, during the second half in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High quarterback Luke Napolitano, right, rushes with the ball chased by Sacred Heart Prep’s John Van Sweden during the second half in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Anthony Battista, center, competes during the second half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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CARSON, CA, December 21, 2013 -- Corona del Mar High’s Cole Martin, center, competes against Sacred Heart Prep’s Riley Tinsley, left, and Ben Burr-Kirven, right, during the second half in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Barrett Barbato (7) reacts after the Sea Kings recover a fumble during the second half against Sacred Heart Prep in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High’s Hugh Crance jumps on teammate Bo St. Geme as they celebrate after beating Sacred Heart Prep, 27-15, in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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The Corona del Mar High football team pose for photos after defeating Sacred Heart Prep, 27-15, in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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Corona del Mar High head coach Scott Meyer, center, holds up the championship trophy after the Sea Kings beat Sacred Heart Prep, 27-15, in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
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The Corona del Mar High football team pose for a group photo after beating Sacred Heart Prep, 27-15, in the 2013 CIF State Football Division III Bowl Championship Game at StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday. (Kevin Chang/ Daily Pilot) (KEVIN CHANG / Daily Pilot)
By David Carrillo Peñaloza
CARSON — Corona del Mar High made history on Saturday afternoon.
The Sea Kings are the first high school football team in California to finish a season a perfect 16-0. They capped their historic run with a 27-15 win against Atherton Sacred Heart Prep in the CIF State Division III Bowl Game at the StubHub Center in Carson.
Corona del Mar made it look easy early on, jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the opening quarter, before running into trouble in the second quarter. Sacred Heart Prep made it a contest, cutting the deficit to 21-15 before halftime.
In the second half, CdM’s defense led the way. The Sea Kings came away with three fumbles, the first and last ones led to Jason Neiger field goals from 31 and 35 yards out.
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The Sea Kings blanked Sacred Heart Prep (13-2) in the second half, securing their 26th straight win and place in history.