Trabuco Hills’ Defense Recovers to Stifle Corona del Mar

After getting lit up for 37 points last week in a loss to Woodbridge, the Trabuco Hills defense took out its frustration on Corona del Mar.

Safety Chad Early intercepted a pass and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown with 5 minutes 3 seconds left in the third quarter as the Mustangs pulled away in the second half for a 35-7 nonleague victory Thursday night at Newport Harbor High School.

Trailing, 14-7, Corona del Mar (1-2-1) drove to the Trabuco Hills’ 17-yard line, but Sea King quarterback Todd Kehrli floated a pass intended for running back Tom Hess.

Early got to it first and ran untouched to the end zone. His return keyed a 21-0 second half for the Mustangs.

“I don’t think 35-7 was really indicative of this game,” Trabuco Hills Coach Jim Barnett said. “Corona del Mar drove down there and made a mistake, and that was the key play of the game.”

Trabuco Hills (1-2-1) shut down Corona del Mar’s offense. The Sea Kings managed only 53 yards rushing, but Kehrli did complete 17 of 29 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown.

Corona del Mar’s only score came with nine seconds left in the second quarter, when Kehrli threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jason Clark to cut the deficit to 14-7.

Early’s interception return pushed Trabuco Hills’ lead to 21-7 in the third quarter. Junior quarterback Pat Barnes took over in the fourth quarter, scoring on a one-yard run and throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass to Cordell Graham for the final two scores.

Barnes, who played inconsistently in his first three games, completed 13 of 25 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns against the Sea Kings.

“He’s beginning to show a lot of poise,” Barnett said.

Trabuco Hills’ first two touchdowns came on a five-yard run by fullback Tim Blek with 7:42 left in the second quarter, and a 19-yard touchdown pass from Barnes to tight end Gibson Gomez. Gomez finished with four catches for 55 yards.

Although he was impressed with Barnes and the defense, Barnett said he was disappointed with the Mustangs’ rushing attack. Tailback Jeff Clayton had 73 yards in 15 carries, including no yards in four carries in the second half. Blek had 32 yards in six carries.