Saddleback Shuts Down Corona del Mar

Joel Gonzalez’s 30-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter gave Saddleback a 10-7 victory over Corona del Mar in a nonleague game Friday night at Newport Harbor High.

Corona del Mar, which had scored only 10 points in its previous three games got big plays against the Roadrunners, but none of them counted. Four were called back by penalties in the first half and the Sea Kings could not recover.

Corona del Mar’s defense came up big, however, causing three turnovers in the first half and sacking Roadrunner quarterback Victor Ortiz four times in the game.

David Beser had two interceptions, including one at Corona del Mar’s nine-yard line. He also recovered a fumble at the Sea Kings’ 10.

But Saddleback’s defense stuck with the Sea Kings the entire game. Running back Grant Estabrook carried the ball 29 times for 77 yards, but 28 of them came on one play.

With Corona del Mar’s top two quarterbacks, Matt Moore and Joe Barber, out with injuries, the Sea Kings went to Evan Burden. He responded with a seven for 16 performance with one touchdown and one interception.

Fred Chavez’s 27-yard field goal gave Saddleback a 3-0 halftime lead.

The Sea Kings started to move the ball in the second half. A 34-yard field goal attempt went wide in the third quarter. They had a 62-yard drive that was kept alive by a pass from punt formation from Burden to Eric Snell. But Saddleback stuffed Estabrook at the one-yard line to keep the Sea Kings off the scoreboard.

Corona del Mar finally scored on a four-yard pass from Burden to Estabrook with 1:49 left to play.

After Gonzalez got a first down, Saddleback ran out the clock.