Corona del Mar Comes Out on Top After Trailing, 9-0

MISSION VIEJO — Corona del Mar High School rallied from a 9-0 deficit to defeat Trabuco Hills, 10-9, at Mission Viejo High Friday night.

Corona del Mar (2-2) relied on a stubborn defense that, despite giving up 301 total yards, kept the Sea Kings in the game until the offense, which gained only 67 yards in the first half, woke up.

In fact, it was a 31-yard interception return by Corona del Mar’s Scott Pannier that set up the Sea Kings’ first score. After an incomplete pass, Todd Kehrli threw 39 yards to a wide open Jeff Wegener for the touchdown. After an unsportsmanlike penalty was called on Wegener for spiking the ball, Tom Hess kicked a 35-yard extra point to make the score 9-7.

The Sea King defense then forced Trabuco Hills (1-2-1) to punt and Corona del Mar took over at its own 40. After a 16-yard gain by Hess on a reverse, the Sea King offense appeared to be in trouble again when it faced a third-and-17 situation from the Mustang 41. But Kehrli threw 33 yards to Jason Clark to put the ball at the eight. Three running plays resulted in three yards lost, so Hess kicked a 24-yard field goal with 6:16 left to give Corona del Mar a 10-9 lead.