Corona del Mar football outlasts inspired Newport Harbor for eighth straight Battle of the Bay win
The Corona del Mar High School football team has now won eight straight Battle of the Bay rivalry games against Newport Harbor, building itself into one of the top public school teams in Orange County during that time.
Newport Harbor has made strides under third-year coach Peter Lofthouse to show itself as an up-and-coming program as well.
In this unique season shortened and postponed by the coronavirus, the Sea Kings and the Sailors met a day after April Fool’s Day at Davidson Field to again battle for city supremacy. This time, Newport Harbor was no laughing matter.
The Sailors made plays on defense all game long, keeping them in the low-scoring affair. But CdM still got the turnover it needed at the end to stay on top.
Sophomore Mason Kubichek stripped the ball from a Sailors receiver in the final two minutes and senior Tommy Griffin recovered, helping CdM earn a tense 10-7 Sunset League victory.
It may have been sloppy, but the Sea Kings (3-1, 2-1 in league) would take it after beating the Sailors (1-3, 1-2) for the eighth straight season. Friday’s Battle of the Bay game was the first in that streak that was decided by less than 10 points.
CdM did just enough to stay a game behind first-place Los Alamitos (3-0 in league) with two games remaining.
“We thought the game would be very tight going into it,” CdM coach Dan O’Shea said. “They’ve made huge strides in their program, but we were down low probably four or five times and just couldn’t get a play to finish it. It’s just execution, but it was tough. They were really good and physical at the line of scrimmage.”
The Sea Kings spent most of the game on Newport Harbor’s side of the field, as the Sailors were largely unable to move the ball. That was especially true after Newport Harbor senior running back Justin McCoy, who had 58 yards rushing and a touchdown in the first half, suffered a hip injury on the last play of the half.
Newport Harbor coach Peter Lofthouse said that McCoy, who was on crutches after the game, would likely be done for the season. Josiah Lamarque took over running back duties on Friday.
CdM led 10-7 after Dane Voorhees’ 40-yard field goal late in the first half, and neither team could score after the intermission. CdM struggled in its passing game, as sophomore quarterback David Rasor completed 12 of 27 passes for 119 yards and an interception, though he did score his team’s lone touchdown on a five-yard rushing score in the first quarter.
Credit Newport Harbor’s defense, led by senior linebacker Erik Hehl.
Hehl, a transfer from Edison, had two early quarterback sacks and at least three tackles for a loss, while Kashton Henjum had an interception in the end zone to thwart a CdM drive in the second quarter.
“I’m not sure we blocked [Hehl] all night,” O’Shea said. “He was a difference-maker for sure.”
Dylan Wood and Trent Merriman each had a pair of sacks to lead the Sea Kings, while senior linebacker Mikey Wein had an interception for the third straight game.
Newport Harbor junior quarterback Nick Kim tried to lead the Sailors on a game-tying drive in the third quarter, but a 26-yard field goal attempt was wide right.
CdM also missed a 30-yard field goal attempt with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter, giving Newport Harbor one last chance. But the next play from scrimmage, a hitch route to the left, resulted in a turnover. The receiver was stripped by Kubichek as he fought for extra yardage, and Griffin recovered.
“They’re heavy up front, and they played really hard and really well, as they should in a rivalry game,” Griffin said. “But I think us winning a football game like that shows a lot of grit.”
Despite the loss, Lofthouse said he had a positive message for his Sailors after the game.
“I told them that they should hold their heads up very high,” he said. “They competed with a great football team. That’s one of the top teams in the county, and coming in, we knew we were competitive enough to be able to beat them. They poured their hearts and soul [into it], and that’s what a Sunset League game is all about. That’s what a Battle of the Bay game is like.”
Corona del Mar plays Edison next Friday night at Huntington Beach High in an anticipated matchup, while Newport Harbor hosts Huntington Beach.
With the CIF Southern Section playoffs canceled for football, the Sea Kings already consider themselves winners in the biggest game of their season following their Battle of the Bay triumph.
“This became our Super Bowl,” said CdM senior right tackle Jake Trachtman, who plays alongside his twin, right guard Seth Trachtman, on the Sea Kings’ offensive line. “This is the game we saw on the schedule when it first came out, the game we wanted to win.”
Sunset League
Corona del Mar 10, Newport Harbor 7
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Newport Harbor 0 – 7 – 0 – 0 — 7
Corona del Mar 7 – 3 – 0 – 0 — 10
FIRST QUARTER
CdM – Rasor 5 run (Voorhees kick), 2:52.
SECOND QUARTER
NH – McCoy 2 run (Tankersley kick), 8:46.
CdM – Voorhees 40 FG, 1:11.
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING
CdM – Sanders, 10-52.
NH - McCoy, 15-58.
INDIVIDUAL PASSING
CdM– Rasor, 12-27-1, 119.
NH - Kim, 11-17-1, 63.
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING
CdM – Griffin, 8-63.
NH – Henjum, 6-55.
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