Evans, Quinn Connect Late to Lead Corona del Mar

COSTA MESA — Everything went right for Corona del Mar at the right time: the last two minutes of Friday night’s game.

Matt Evans hooked up with tight end Chris Quinn on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left to play to give the host Sea Kings (8-3-1) a 13-10 victory over Orange Friday at Orange Coast College.

Corona del Mar linebacker Scott Hardesty intercepted an Andy Lauridsen pass with 2 minutes 8 seconds left in the game to give the Sea Kings a chance for the winning drive. The Sea Kings had failed to move the ball on two possessions earlier in the quarter.

The third time would be the charm, however, as Evans hooked up with Jeff Wegener for 21 yards and a first down at the Panther 42. A J.R. Walz run and an eight-yard pass to Randy Thomason gave the Sea Kings a first down at the 32, and Evans then scrambled for 13. A six-yard Walz run set up the winning score. Quinn got a step on a Panther defender and caught the ball over his shoulder in the back of the end zone.

Orange (7-5) had broken a 7-7 halftime tie early in the fourth quarter with a bizarre scoring drive that started late in the third period. An incomplete pass turned into a bonanza, as Corona del Mar was penalized for a late hit on the Panther receiver and also received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for good measure.

Orange also overcame two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, then benefited from another late-hit penalty moved them to the Sea King 25. Micah Knorr connected on a 41-yard field goal after the offense stalled for a 10-7 Panther lead with 8:45 remaining.

O--Worthem 1 run (Knorr kick)

CdM--Walz 1 run (Rupp kick)

O--FG Knorr 41

CdM--Quinn 13 pass from Evans (pass failed)

LEADING RUSHERS--O: Worthem 25-71; CdM: Walz 23-148. LEADING PASSERS--O: Lauridsen 8-16-2, 121; CdM: Evans 14-25-1, 116. LEADING RECEIVERS--O: Holmes 4-70; CdM: Wegener 5-58.

Attendance--2,000.