CdM defense was a force right to the end

NEWPORT BEACH - Defensive players aren't given much publicity or fanfare. They do their job quietly but are an integral part of any team's success.

In Corona del Mar's case, they held the team together and did a tremendous job throughout the year. The Sea Kings turned around a 3-6 campaign in 2007 and finished the 2008 season at 10-3.

Corona del Mar finished its improbable ride with a hard-fought but losing effort to Mayfair, 14-6, Saturday night in the semifinals of the Southern Division playoffs at Newport Harbor High.

The Sea Kings were tested Saturday by a Monsoon squad which had averaged more than 500 yards of offense in its previous two playoff games, but the Sea Kings allowed just 258 total yards.

Corona del Mar sacked Mayfair quarterback Jimmy Ohiri four times, the defense spent most of the night in the senior quarterback's face.

Junior linebacker Alex Swiegert had two of those sacks and forced a turnover on downs as the Monsoons were driving in the fourth quarter. His coach, Jason Hitchens, called him a leader on a defense that went into the game allowing less than 13 points a game.

“Alex has been one of our top defenders all year long, so this was just another great night from him," Hitchens said. "One of the nicest things is the fact he is just a junior.

“Our kids have a lot to be proud of as not too many people expected us to be playing in December, so we showed them and exceeded expectations.”

Swiegert said it was a total team effort every game.

“A lot of our guys play both ways,” an emotional Swiegert said. “I definitely don't feel like a leader. Everyone had each other's back every time out there and I was glad to be a part of it.”

Swiegert got some help in the sack department from Will Ham and Max Haase. The Sea Kings held Dominique Small, who rushed for 193 yards last week in a win over Los Amigos, to just 44 yards.

Small's backfield mate Keith Harvey, who rushed for 100 yards on 12 carries vs. Los Amigos, didn't fare any better, picking up 39 yards.

Swiegert said the key to Mayfair's offense was its big offensive line, which opened holes for both backs. By plugging those holes, the Sea Kings kept Mayfair scoreless for most of the contest.

After being shut out and held to just 139 yards in the first half, the Monsoons caught a break by returning a fumble 41 yards to the Sea Kings' 5. One play later, Mayfair was on the scoreboard with Ronald Kennedy Jr.'s touchdown run.

The Mayfair defense set up the winning score. After an interception at midfield with 2:29 left, the Monsoons marched 50 yards in six plays, capped by Kennedy's 20-yard run.

Hitchens, in his first year at Corona del Mar, said his defense did a tremendous job all season.

“We've shut down the run all year long in kind of forcing teams to throw to beat us,” Hutchens said. “Unfortunately, we were pinned ourselves defensively for most of the second half."

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com