ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP EXTRA : Kennedy Takes Advantage of the Sea Kings’ Mistakes

As hard as they wanted to forget problems off the field, the Corona del Mar Sea Kings could not overcome the bevy of mistakes made on the field.

Penalties, fumbles, interceptions and finally a couple of missed tackles--along with a tenacious opponent in Kennedy, which hung tough until it got the final break it needed--all played a role in the Sea Kings’ 17-10 loss to the Fighting Irish in front of 1,400 Friday at Western High.

Kennedy improved to 2-1, while Corona del Mar dropped to 2-1.

Running back Darin Martineau broke loose for an 81-yard touchdown run with 3:02 left to play to break a 10-10 tie. Martineau, who scored Kennedy’s other touchdown on a two-yard run in the second quarter, finished with 142 yards in 17 carries. Joe Paloney added a 20-yard field goal.

“We were twice as small as they were,” Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson said. “But Kennedy kids are hard-nosed and don’t think they can lose. We were grasping at what plays to run, but we got lucky.”

On defense Brad Sabol secured the victory with his second interception, and the third the Fighting Irish defense picked off against Corona del Mar quarterback Josh Walz.

But Walz, who had a pass intercepted on the Sea Kings’ first play of the game, and again midway through the second quarter, was not the only Corona del Mar player having a tough night. The Sea Kings lost two fumbles and had 81 yards in penalties. One cost them a 29-yard touchdown run by Walz, and two others stunted long punt and kickoff returns.

The Sea Kings’ only moments came on a three-yard touchdown pass from Walz to Scott Shimer in the second quarter, and a 38-yard field goal by Jim Keane with 7:40 left to play.

“We were flat emotionally,” Corona del Mar interim Coach Dick Freeman said. “The kids did the best they could, but you could see that little extra spark wasn’t there. And Kennedy is a very good defensive team; they don’t give you anything free.”

This was a game Olson said his team needed to have to start making some headway.

The Fighting Irish had struggled with their wide-open, four-receiver offense in the first two weeks of the season.

“This was to be our night to take a big step,” Olson said.