NEWPORT BEACH – Corona del Mar keeps finding ways to extend the longest active winning streak in the state.
On Friday, the No. 6 Sea Kings overcame the loss of standout running back Cole Martin to an injury by turning to the legs of quarterback Peter Bush and a stingy defense to handle No. 10 El Toro and quarterback Trey Tinsley, 31-14, at Newport Harbor.
A trick play in the second quarter and wide receiver Bo St. Geme also played starring roles for the reigning state champion Sea Kings (3-0), who won their 29th consecutive game.
“Our guys want it,” Corona del Mar coach Scott Meyer said. “They aren’t happy or satisfied with what they did last year. They want to continue to play as good as they can every week.
“Great bunch of guys to coach. They work hard every week.”
Bush, a first-year starter, rushed for three short touchdowns. He finished with 99 yards on 20 carries, both season highs. The junior teamed with sophomore running back Jaydin Moses (73 yards on 19 carries) to pick up the slack for Martin, who left with an apparent knee injury with about a minute left in the first quarter.
“Cole is a great player and a great leader, so we’re hoping for the best,” said Meyer, whose team lost backup running back Anthony Battista to a offseason transfer to Tesoro. “We kind of went into the game saying Peter is like a 215-pound running back for us. … He ended up having some big runs.”
Corona del Mar also played without starting right tackle Mitch Dean (concussion). Standout defensive linemen Parker Chase and Harrison Carter rotated at right tackle and still contributed to a defense that allowed one touchdown.
Kaleb Fossum returned a kickoff 99 yards for the Chargers’ lone touchdown in the second half. The Sea Kings limited El Toro (2-1) and its high-tempo offense to a rushing TD by Matt Amato in the first half.
“They might be better than advertised,” El Toro coach Robert Frith said of CdM. “They’re going to be tough this year.”
Corona del Mar’s defense didn’t face El Toro running back Marcus DeSantis (ill) but made big plays in the second half when it needed to. Carter derailed one drive with a key sack in the third quarter and Brett Greenlee’s interception at the Chargers’ 17 led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Bush early in the fourth to cap the scoring.
The Sea Kings’ defense, featuring 10 returning starters from last season, held El Toro to 38 rushing.
Corona del Mar led, 17-7, at halftime thanks some to well-executed trickery. St. Geme caught a 50-yard touchdown pass off a reverse to fellow wide receiver Cole Collins with 2:23 left in the second quarter. Collins’ pass found St. Geme wide open and Jason Neiger added the extra point for the 10-point lead.
The play started with a handoff to Hugh Crance, who handed the ball to Collins.
“Cole used to be, his sophomore year, the JV quarterback,” Meyer said. “(He) has a good arm. We put it (the play) in this week and it was there and Cole made a good throw.”
Corona del Mar also grabbed the momentum with the trick-play. El Toro trimmed the Sea Kings’ lead to 10-7 on a 2-yard touchdown run by Amato on a fourth-and-goal with 7:31 left in the second quarter.
Corona del Mar opened a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by Bush. Bush set up his run with a 40-yard completion on a deep pass to St. Geme, who made a leaping catch at the El Toro 27. St. Geme finished with nine catches for 157 yards while Bush threw for 143 yards.
Neiger capped Corona del Mar’s first drive with a 37-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Next week, the Sea Kings play Newport Harbor (1-1) in the Battle of the Bay and then play at Tesoro to close out their nonleague schedule. Tesoro impressed Friday with a 28-14 victory against Upland.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
