BUENA PARK – Buena Park remained on the fast track Friday.
The Coyotes’ young standouts continued their rise and seniors Elijah Bynum and Zach Taylor used their speed as host Buena Park defeated third-seeded Corona del Mar, 35-17, in the second round of the CIF-SS Southwest Division playoffs.
Bynum rushed for 193 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, while Taylor threw for three touchdowns, including a pair to speedy sophomore Devon Cooley.
The Coyotes (10-2) also sacked quarterback Chase Garbers five times to advance to next Friday’s semifinal at No. 2 seed San Clemente, which held off Sonora, 52-45.
“We’re still growing,” Buena Park coach Anthony White said. “Corona del Mar is a fantastic program. They’ve been there, done that. We’re just trying to do the best we can.”
Buena Park’s speed showed on a 70-yard touchdown run by Bynum in the first quarter and a 45-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth by Cooley, who made a catch at the sideline before darting to the middle for the final 30 yards.
Buena Park’s Jeremiah Hawkins, a junior, showed his burst on a 10-yard touchdown run later in the fourth. And there was junior Elijah Gates, who covered receiver Peter Bush (one catch) and produced a catch-and-run for 42 yards to set up his 12-yard TD catch late in the first half.
“We just couldn’t contain their speed,” Corona del Mar coach Dan O’Shea said. “It’s a different speed, for sure.”
Buena Park’s man-to-man coverage also gave Corona del Mar (9-3) a different look. Bynum, Cedric Dashiell II, Alex Rojas, Andrew Wright and Ryan Nelson produced sacks and numerous hits on Garbers, who completed 9 of 25 passes for 117 yards. The completions were a season low for Garbers, also a standout junior who entered the game with 2,598 yards passing.
Garbers also rushed for 81 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown.
Taylor capped an 80-yard scoring drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Cooley on a post for 21-3 lead with 7:59 left in the third. Taylor finished with 211 yards passing.
After Buena Park’s defense forced the Sea Kings to turn the ball over on downs at the Coyotes’ 18 on the ensuing possession, the Freeway League runner-ups used a fake punt by Hawkins to extend a drive for Cooley’s 45-yard TD catch on the second play of the fourth.
The score helped Buena Park open a 28-3 lead.
Gates sparked Buena Park in the first half as the Coyotes drove 80 yards in the final 2:30 to take a 14-3 lead. He caught a 12-yard TD pass from Taylor with 18 seconds left in the second quarter.
Gates, who has an offered from Cincinnati, helped set up his score with a 42-yard reception on a screen and zig-zagging run to the Corona del Mar 26 with just more than a minute left.
The Coyotes’ late score capitalized on a missed field goal with 2:30 left.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
