Debuts trigger teams’ appetite

Digestion is almost complete on what could be considered the

appetizer of the high school football season. And, regardless of the

outcome of either the season-opening game or a preseason scrimmage,

Newport-Mesa coaches all share a hunger for the next course.

Corona del Mar High and Sage Hill School will enter this week’s

action with the satisfaction of having already swallowed a victory.

But neither Sea Kings Coach Dick Freeman, nor Lightning head man

Tom Monarch are the least bit interested in pushing away from the

preleague table to savor the early taste of success.

Meanwhile, first-year coaches Jay Johnson (Costa Mesa) and Brian

Barnes (Estancia), both coming off opening losses, have already begun

reassembling the ingredients that will go into their next contest.

Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley is dealing with the sour

sensation created by a disappointing showing in the team’s scrimmage

against Trabuco Hills Friday.

* CORONA DEL MAR: The Sea Kings defeated Estancia, 26-6, Friday at

Orange Coast College, and their solid performance provided more

cramps than kinks for Freeman and his staff to work out.

Freeman, who said a handful of players cramping up in the second

half may have had something to do with OCC’s cushiony year-old

synthetic turf, had plenty to be encouraged about.

“I thought our offensive line did really well and I thought our

defense played well,” said Freeman, who was expecting a strong

defense this year but had listed the offensive front as a question

mark heading into the season.

Another plus was a breakout performance by senior tailback Matt

Loyd. Loyd, who played some receiver last season but had primarily

contributed at defensive back before this season, carried 23 times

for 187 yards.

Loyd, who started at cornerback, also made a leaping interception.

The Sea Kings broke a scoreless tie with 1:31 left in the first

half when fullback Matt Burgner plunged in on fourth-and-goal at the

2-yard line.

The momentum escalated when end Keaten Price’s big hit forced a

fumble recovered by Ford Noe at the Estancia 27 on the first play

after intermission.

CdM scored two plays later and never looked back.

The Sea Kings face Costa Mesa at Newport Harbor Friday.

* SAGE HILL: Friday night marked just the second time the

Lightning -- in their fourth varsity season -- have played a home

game under the lights.

But with the installation of temporary lighting fixtures in each

corner of the school’s home field, the team will be playing night

home games all season.

According to the statistics from the two Sage night games, the

future looks bright, in more ways than one.

The Lightning defeated their two opponents -- Silver Valley last

season and Fairmont Prep Friday -- by a combined score of 103-27

while racking up 722 yards of total offense. The 62-19 victory over

Silver Valley was a single-game points record.

An estimated 800 attended Friday’s 41-8 victory over Fairmont

Prep, easily the most to witness a home game.

“That’s a great turnout, especially since school hadn’t even

started,” Monarch said. “Our players fed off it.”

Junior fullback Don Ayres rushed for 143 yards and three

touchdowns while senior tailback Keya Manshadi rushed for 97 yards

and a touchdown.

Manshadi also hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from sophomore

quarterback Jamie McGee, as the Lightning improved to 3-1 in season

openers.

The Lightning play host to Saddleback Valley Christian at 7 p.m.

Friday.

* ESTANCIA: Though disappointed with the outcome, Barnes believes

the Eagles acquitted themselves well for their first effort under the

26-year-old rookie coach.

“The first half, I thought we played really well,” Barnes said. “I

wasn’t completely satisfied, because you can’t be unless you win. The

biggest thing for me was to see what kind of kids we had and how they

competed. I learned a lot. I think the kids proved to me they are

buying into what we are selling.”

Barnes singled out quarterback Ryan Watson (17 for 27 passing for

173 yards and one touchdown), defensive end Travis Todd,

receiver-free safety Matt Redding and middle linebacker Nelson Leon

for their strong play.

Barnes acknowledged that the Eagles’ running game, which produced

a mere 2 yards on 21 rushing attempts, will be the primary focus

heading into Thursday’s game against Huntington Park.

“I’ll borrow a quote from Lou Holtz, who said ‘The biggest room in

the world is the room for improvement,’ ” Barnes said.

Senior Ezequiel Villalvazo, who starts at receiver and cornerback,

is being evaluated for a possible concussion, Barnes said.

Villalvazo’s availability for this week is uncertain.

* COSTA MESA: Johnson said his players experienced what he hoped

would be a wake-up call in a 30-0 loss at Brea Olinda Friday.

“I think the kids realize what kind of effort they need to put out

and the amount of mental mistakes they will need to cut down in order

to win, especially against a team the caliber of Brea,” Johnson said.

“We did some things right,” added Johnson, who praised the

offensive line play of senior tackle Juan Diaz and senior guard

Robert De La Cruz.

Johnson also lauded the rushing performance of senior tailback

Tyler Legg, who collected 79 yards on 18 carries.

Johnson said tackle Diaz, junior linebacker London Sapolu and

safety Cody Waldron stood out defensively.

* NEWPORT HARBOR: Escaping without injuries was the foremost

positive of the Sailors’ preseason tuneup, in which Trabuco Hills

scored six touchdowns to their three.

“We had some major breakdowns, defensively, but nothing we can’t

clean up,” Brinkley said.

Newport opens at 7 p.m. Thursday against visiting Fountain Valley.

-- Chris Yemma contributed to this story.