MISSION VIEJO – Corona del Mar’s offense appears ready to take on the outstanding defenses it will confront in the Bravo League.
The Sea Kings scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the first half on their way to a 35-13 win over Trabuco Hills on Friday in the final nonleague football game for both teams.
Sea Kings senior quarterback Brady Annett passed for 233 yards and two touchdowns, both to senior receiver Dorsett Stecker. Chase Kuchera ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
Corona del Mar will take a 5-0 record into its Bravo League opener Friday, Oct. 3, at Newport Harbor High against San Juan Hills. Corona del Mar finished fifth in the six-team league last season with a 1-4 league record.
San Juan Hills was 5-0 in league last year.
The league includes Newport Harbor, Tesoro, Villa Park and Yorba Linda.
Trabuco Hills (3-2) plays Friday, Oct. 3, at home against El Modena in the Delta League opener for both teams. Trabuco Hills was fifth in the six-team league last year with a 1-4 league record. El Modena was third at 3-2.
Corona del Mar is No. 15 in the Orange County Top 25. Trabuco Hills is No. 23.
Corona del Mar scored on its first possession. Kuchera’s fourth carry of the drive was a 1-yard touchdown drive for a 7-0 lead.
A sack by Corona del Mar defensive lineman Dylan Nichols for a 12-yard loss on fourth down gave the Sea Kings the ball on the Trabuco Hills 31. Trejan Nixon scored on an 11-yard run for a 14-0 Sea Kings lead 2:46 left in the first quarter.
Corona del Mar moved its lead to 21-0 at the 7:39 mark of the second quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Annett to Stecker. Annett was under pressure, rolled out to his left and threw on the run toward the back, left corner of the end zone where Stecker pulled in the ball in stride.
Trabuco Hills scored on the final play from scrimmage in the second quarter, a 16-yard pass from freshman quarterback Jackson Verplancke to Joshua Fitch. An interception by the Mustangs’ Riley Overman set up the touchdown. The point-after kick was unsuccessful, leaving Corona del Mar with a 21-6 halftime lead.
Trabuco Hills was 0-3 on fourth-down conversion tries in the first half.
Corona del Mar extended its lead to 28-6 on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Annett to Stecker.
The Sea Kings scored again early in the fourth quarter on a 46-yard touchdown run by Kuchera.
Trabuco Hills got its second touchdown midway through the fourth quarter on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Verplancke to Gavin Mulhall.
Stecker finished with 148 receiving yards on seven receptions. JJ Haley had five catches for 56 yards for Corona del Mar.
Annett completed 13 of 17 passes.
Verplancke completed 17 of 30 passes for 158 yards.
Trabuco Hills’ Micah Bowman had six receptions for 65 yards.