SEA VIEW LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Corona del Mar Wins a Game It Couldn’t Afford to Lose

When the Corona del Mar Sea Kings stepped on the field Thursday night, their toughest games were behind them. They couldn’t afford to blow an easy one. And they didn’t.

After allowing a field goal to University on its opening drive, the Sea Kings scored on their first four possessions and went on to a 38-9 Sea View League victory.

Corona del Mar controls its own destiny. The Sea Kings (6-3, 4-2) can get one of three automatic qualifying berths for the Southern Section Division IV playoffs with a victory over Saddleback (2-6, 1-4). Unbeaten Irvine is the only team with fewer losses. Santa Margarita, Woodbridge and Newport Harbor have two losses each but still play each other.

University fell to 1-8, 1-5.

“I told the kids we have six playoff games,” Corona del Mar Coach Dave Holland said, referring to the final two league games and four real postseason events. “We’re not in the playoffs yet.”

University Coach Mark Cunningham said he wasn’t surprised by the outcome.

“(Corona del Mar) can’t lose one or (they’re) out,” Cunningham said. “They came out and did what they had to do. They’re a good football team.”

They were led by J.R. Walz, who rushed 27 times for 151 yards and four touchdowns, including a 23-yard score with 2 minutes 58 seconds left in the third quarter, only 88 seconds after University’s only touchdown, making it 31-9.

“The offensive line played well,” Holland said. “(But) we’ve got to get our passing game going next week for the playoffs.”

Aaron Perlmutter completed five of nine passes for 43 yards for Corona del Mar. Dov Herbstman was seven of 16 for 84 yards and one touchdown, a seven-yard pass to Alan Price, for University.

Corona del Mar scored on each of its four first-half possessions. Walz scored from one yard on the first three series. Mike Zoelle added the field goal from 36 yards with one second left in the half.

University pulled out all the stops trying to keep up with the Sea Kings, but they were fruitless.

The Trojans tried a halfback pass that fell incomplete, a double reverse that was fumbled, and a fake punt that gained nothing.

Jeff Borland tackled Jamie Polidore on the double reverse, forcing a fumble and then recovering the ball 24 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Walz capped a 29-yard drive with his third touchdown.

Corona del Mar’s second touchdown was set up by Scott Proud’s 55-yard punt return. The scoring drive went 37 yards.

The Sea Kings converted a fourth-and-two situation at the University 27 to keep alive their first scoring drive.

University scored first, on Jeff Rosenberger’s 33-yard field goal.