LAS FLORES – Tesoro was determined not to let Corona del Mar’s magical number grow Friday night.
Titans coach Matt Poston told his players about the Sea Kings’ 30-game winning streak – the longest active streak in the state – and Tesoro attacked it with defense, the dual-threat abilities of quarterback Devon Modster and a defensive back nicknamed “Bones.”
And after an intense four quarters, the Titans played the role of stoppers. Literally.
Matt “Bones” Buoncristiani returned a fumble 53 yards for a touchdown with 3:57 left in the fourth quarter and added an interception about 1:30 later to help No. 7 Tesoro defeat visiting No. 6 Corona del Mar, 28-14, in a highly charged nonleague game.
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VIDEO: COX 3 POST GAME SHOW FOR CDM VS. TESORO
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The Sea Kings (4-1) lost for the first time since falling to Capistrano Valley, 24-7, on Sept. 21, 2012. The Cougars coach then was Poston, who mentioned the Sea Kings’ streak to his players before Friday’s game.
“These are 17, 18-year-old kids, (you do) anything you can do to motivate them,” Poston said. “(Corona del Mar) is an unbelievable program. … This is a great win for us.”
Corona del Mar coach Scott Meyer said his team didn’t focus on the streak and downplayed its end Friday. “We lost to Tesoro,” he said. “The streak’s over. We never really talked about it. …. Our guys are going to bounce back.”
Turnovers played a pivotal role. Tesoro’s defense forced four turnovers, turning two of the takeaways into 14 points. Corona del Mar’s defense grabbed two interceptions, neither of which turned into points.
Buoncristiani delivered the biggest defensive play. Corona del Mar trailed, 21-14, with just more than four minutes left and earned a first down at the Tesoro 39. But a low snap got away from quarterback Peter Bush and the senior grabbed the ball off the turf and raced to the end zone.
Tesoro (4-1) also handled the return of running back Cole Martin, who gained 44 yards on 11 carries in his first game since a knee injury two weeks ago. Martin dueled with ex-CdM running back Anthony Battista, who gained 50 yards for the Titans.
“It was a dogfight out there,” said Buoncristiani, who also had a tackle for loss and pass break up. “But our defense executed more and made more plays.”
Tesoro led, 21-14, going into the fourth after both teams scored in the third.
Corona del Mar opened the third with an 80-yard TD pass from Bush to Cole Collins on the first play from scrimmage to even the score, 14-14. But Modster helped the Titans respond, leading an 80-yard scoring drive on their next series.
The junior capped the drive with a 26-yard TD run — featuring a spectacular stiff-arm — but also went 4 for 4 passing on the drive.
“He kind of took over there,” Poston said of Modster’s play on the drive.
Tesoro capitalized on Corona del Mar miscues to take a 14-7 lead at halftime.
Modster gave the Titans a 6-0 lead with a 1-yard TDrun with 4:12 left in the first to cap a short drive after Corona del Mar sailed a snap over its punter’s head.
On Corona del Mar’s ensuing possession, Tesoro hard-hitting safety Tristan Kafentzis recovered a fumble at the Sea Kings 45 with 3:30 left in the first. The Titans were moved back by a chop block penalty but Modster capitalized by throwing a 60-yard TD pass over the middle to Jake Smeltzer for a 14-0 lead.
“Turnovers killed us,” Meyer said. “Lot of mistakes out there. … (But) they’re a good team, for sure.”
Corona del Mar’s defense help set up the Sea Kings’ first touchdown early in the second. Defensive back Hugh Crance broke up a pass by Modster on a fourth-and-2 from Corona del Mar 47, and the Sea Kings quickly drove for a 4-yard TD run Bush to cut Tesoro’s lead in half with 5:38 left in the second quarter.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
