Sea Kings rally, 28-7

GARDEN GROVE -- The Corona del Mar High football team have saved its best for last.

The Sea Kings defeated Garden Grove, 28-7, Friday in the opening round of CIF Southern Section Division IX playoffs.

The Sea Kings started the season 2-5, but have won four straight. Against the Argonauts, CdM went down, 7-0, then scored 28 unanswered points in the triumph.

Shaun Mohler was intimidating on both sides of the ball. After spending the first half terrorizing the Argonauts on defense, Mohler sparked the Sea Kings offensively in the second half.

Corona del Mar Coach Dick Freeman inserted Mohler at quarterback to start the second half, and the senior responded immediately

The Sea Kings’ first drive of the third quarter was a four-play, 70-yard scoring strike. Mohler found a streaking Steve Hillgren down the left sideline. The wide receiver was able to outrun an Argo defender to get to the end zone.

On the ground, junior running back Matt Loyd rushed for 184 yards and scored twice. Loyd came to life in the second half. After a pedestrian first half, he amassed 138 yards after halftime.

Corona del Mar was definitely due for a playoff win. The victory over the Argonauts was the school’s first postseason win since 1995.

Next week, the Sea Kings will play host to La Habra (9-2), a 56-33 winner over Savanna. The Highlanders ended CdM’s season last year, with a 34-31 overtime victory in the opening round of the playoffs.