Two-Minute Drill: CdM’s season ends sooner than expected
For the first time in five years, Corona del Mar High isn’t going to practice on Thanksgiving.
The Sea Kings’ run at a fourth straight CIF Southern Section finals appearance ended last week, losing at Trabuco Hills, 28-10, in the quarterfinals of the Southwest Division playoffs. Trabuco Hills (8-4) upset top-seeded CdM (10-2), which had won the previous three Southern Division titles and reached the semifinals in the division in 2010.
Trabuco Hills snapped CdM’s 15-game playoff winning streak, which dated back to Sea Kings Coach Scott Meyer’s first year in charge in 2011. Since Meyer took over, CdM has claimed three undefeated Pacific Coast League titles, three Southern Division titles and a CIF State Division III title. The Sea Kings went 50-6 overall in the past four years, including an unprecedented 16-0 season in 2013.
“It’s a great group of guys,” Meyer said of his seniors, who suffered their first postseason setback, the school’s previous playoff loss came in the semifinals against Beckman on Dec. 4, 2010. “This is our first freshman class. We won a lot of games together, had a lot of fun together, and worked hard for four years together.”
The Sea Kings lose three standout seniors on offense, wide receivers Bo St. Geme and Cole Collins, and tailback Cole Martin. St. Geme set career records at CdM for receiving yards (2,113) and receptions (154).
The defense featured 10 seniors who started on CdM’s 16-0 team in 2013. Parker Chase, a defensive end, led the group, finishing with a CdM single-season record 22 sacks and a school-best 38 1/2 sacks for a career.
Other key defensive players included linemen Harrison Carter, Justin Hess and Mat Flores, linebackers Hoyt Crance, Hugh Crance and Robby Hoffman, cornerbacks Brett Greenlee and Chad Redfearn, and safety Barrett Barbato.
“We’ll definitely miss those guys,” Meyer said of his seniors.
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•The 10 points CdM produced last week is the second-fewest total in four seasons under Meyer.
Greenlee produced six of those points by returning an interception 43 yards for a touchdown in the opening quarter. It was his second pick-six in the playoffs. Jason Neiger accounted for four points, converting an extra-point kick after Greenlee’s pick-six and a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter.
“It was a good defense,” Meyer said of Trabuco Hills, which had its best outing of the year in terms of points allowed. “The turnover early kind of hurt us a little bit. Credit to Trabuco.”
The Sea Kings turned the ball over inside Trabuco Hills’ 20-yard line on their first drive. Turning the ball over became a trend for CdM, which turned the ball over on downs in opponent territory in the third and fourth quarters, and once near midfield in the fourth.
The one turnover on downs that killed CdM’s momentum in the second half came 6 1/2 minutes after the Sea Kings cut the deficit to 14-10 in the third quarter. On Trabuco Hills’ 37, and facing a fourth-and-five, CdM decided to go for it and it failed. Quarterback Chase Garbers overthrew tight end Peter Bush, who was wide open.
“We were just trying to get [something going],” Meyer said of the decision to keep the drive alive.
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•Who will be CdM’s quarterback next year, Garbers or Bush?
Both are expected to return, Garbers for his junior year and Bush for his senior year.
Garbers, who completed 17 of 30 passes for 154 yards against Trabuco Hills, with no touchdowns or interceptions, became CdM’s starter after Bush suffered an ankle injury in the league opener against Irvine. Bush returned and started against Beckman, the ninth game of the season. But Bush wasn’t the same, and he moved to tight end in the final three contests, catching four passes for 47 yards.
Garbers turned in his poorest performance in terms of completion percentage last week. For the season, he finished 108 of 154 passing for 1,356 yards and 11 touchdowns, with two interceptions. He rushed 77 times for 236 yards and nine touchdowns.
Bush completed 74 of 121 passes for 993 yards and six touchdowns, with four interceptions. He carried the ball 71 times for 242 yards and seven touchdowns.
Next year will sure be interesting with Garbers and Bush back.