Corona del Mar Beats Laguna Beach, Ends Losing Streak

Corona del Mar got its first victory of the season Thursday when it defeated Laguna Beach, 28-7, at Newport Harbor High in the Pacific Coast League opener for both teams.

“I always thought we were a good team and we always expected to win,” said Corona del Mar senior Sean Fenton, whose blocking at left tackle helped the Sea Kings (1-5) score on their first three possessions and dominate the game with ball control.

The Sea Kings, whose 0-5 start was the program’s worst since 1965, took 15 plays to march 62 yards with the opening kickoff, eating more than 6 1/2 minutes off the clock, before Grant Estabrook went six yards for the touchdown.

Estabrook, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound workhorse, finished with a season-high 157 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries.

Corona del Mar’s ground assault helped open up play-action passing opportunities, which junior quarterback Evan Burden exploited for 132 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown toss to a Adam Cooper that gave the Sea Kings a 21-0 lead with 10:17 left in the first half.

Corona del Mar’s defense yielded only 14 yards on the ground and three first downs, one rushing.