CdM captures Southern title with dramatic finish

COSTA MESA - Corona del Mar earned a measure of revenge Friday night, but the Sea Kings instead soaked up the thrill of a dramatic victory in the CIF-SS Southern Division football final.

A swarm of Sea Kings stopped Beckman standout running back Jeff Kim on a 2-point conversion run with seven seconds left to preserve a 14-13 victory at Orange Coast College.

Second-seeded Corona del Mar (12-2) recovered the ensuing onside kickoff and avenged a 42-37 loss to the top-seeded Patriots (11-3) in the Pacific Coast League.

“That wasn’t about revenge,” Corona del Mar first-year coach Scott Meyer said. “It was about our guys winning a championship.”

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Corona del Mar claimed its first Southern Section title since its consecutive Division VI titles in 1988-89.

And ironically, Beckman lost in the Southern Division final for the second consecutive season on a late 2-point conversion.

Last season, Garden Grove edged Beckman in the CIF Southern final, 31-30, on a 2-point conversion run by Josh Webb with 1:27 left.

This time, Beckman’s faithful were chanting “Two! Two! Two!” after wide receiver James Kaprielian caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cameron Biedgoly with seven seconds left, cutting the Sea Kings’ lead to 14-13.

“They didn’t want a tie. They wanted a win,” Beckman coach Ken Mushinskie said of his team. “Corona del Mar played great on that last play.”

Biedgoly drove Beckman 62 yards in the final 1:58 for Kaprielian’s score. Before the 2-point conversion play, it appeared as if Beckman might have been called for delay of game, but Corona del Mar was charged a timeout.

Corona del Mar’s defense also came up with a big stop on a fourth-and-5 from its 9 with 5:32 left in the fourth quarter. Defensive back Cole Cottrell tackled Kim for no gain on the Patriots’ run from the double-wing formation.

“Our defense stepped up big time,” Corona del Mar running back Erik Fisher said.

Corona del Mar took a 14-7 lead into the fourth quarter after quarterback Brent Lawson tossed a 61-yard touchdown pass to Josh Giger with 6:15 left in the third quarter. Lawson finished 8 of 11 for 119 yards and also ran for 67 yards.

In a play that loomed large in the finals seconds, Corona del Mar missed a chance to open 10-point lead when it failed on a 39-yard field goal early in the fourth.

Beckman scored on the opening possession of the second half to knot the score, 7-7. Biedgoly scored on a 1-yard run with 8:43 left to cap a 78-yard drive.

Corona del Mar led, 7-0, at halftime thanks to a 2-yard touchdown pass from Lawson to wide receiver Troy Reese with four seconds left in the first half. Grant Garrett converted the extra point.

Lawson rolled to his right before tossing his 26th touchdown pass, capping an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive. The trek nearly took all of the final five minutes of the second quarter.

A 41-yard connection from Lawson to wideout Chris Johnstone sparked the drive, moving the ball to the Beckman 16. Johnstone, part of a four-receiver formation on the first-down play, nearly scored but was tackled by safety Elijah Steen.

Reese drew pass interference penalties on the ensuing third down from the Beckman 14 and on a third-and-goal from the 4. The latter set up Lawson’s touchdown pass on a first-and-goal at the 2 with 10 seconds left.

The excitement in the closing seconds didn’t stop with score. Corona del Mar’s John Swigert recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the Beckman 44 and returned the ball about 25 yards before being knocked out of bounds.

Each team committed two turnovers.

Corona del Mar had five fumbles overall but recovered three of the loose balls.

Corona del Mar outgained Beckman, 248-201. Kim had 80 yards on 14 carries.

“We weren’t really thinking about (revenge),” said Fisher, who rushed for 70 yards on 22 carries. “We were just thinking about getting a win.”