SEA VIEW LEAGUE : Walz, Perlmutter Take Charge in Corona del Mar’s Victory

J.R. Walz rushed for 241 yards and two touchdowns as Corona del Mar clinched second place in the Sea View League with a 35-14 victory over Saddleback at Newport Harbor High on Friday night.

Walz wasn’t the only standout for the Sea Kings (7-3, 5-2). Quarterback Aaron Perlmutter completed 10 of 19 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns to help lead the balanced attack.

“Perlmutter did some things tonight that will help us in the playoffs,” Corona del Mar Coach Dave Holland said. “We considered this a playoff game that we had to win, and we were able to throw the ball pretty well.”

Perlmutter completed all three of his touchdown passes in the first half as the Sea Kings jumped to a 21-0 lead. On the second play of the game, he found Brian Hogan on a slant pattern, and the play was good for 60 yards and a 7-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Perlmutter hit Garth Turner on another slant for a 31-yard touchdown. Perlmutter then hooked up with Bill Taketa for 10 yards and a 21-0 lead with 38 seconds left in the half.

Corona del Mar stuck to the ground for most of the second half behind Walz, who scored on runs of two and 38 yards. He had 27 carries.

Saddleback (2-8, 1-6) scored its first touchdown to cut the lead to 28-7 in the third quarter when Carlos Ramirez found Gilbert Guzman all alone on a halfback option. The play covered 72 yards. Early in the fourth, Daniel Ruvolo completed a two-yard touchdown pass to Paul Linares to cut the lead to 14 points.