Corona del Mar football overpowered by La Serna in CIF-SS Division 4 final
Corona del Mar is unable to slow down La Serna’s high-powered offense or outmuscle the Lancers defense.
Corona del Mar quarterback Kaleb Annett, center, is tackled by La Serna linebacker Adrian Castro during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
By Lou Ponsi | Correspondent / Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
La Serna’s Owen Long, top, leaps over Corona del Mar’s Dillon Lane during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar wide receiver Dorsett Stecker, left, is hit by La Serna’s Owen Long (1) during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna’s Owen Long (1) evades a tackle by Corona del Mar linebacker Emerson Tingley (32) during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna head coach Andy George, center, holds up the championship plaque after defeating Corona del Mar at the end of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna defensive lineman Emre Law (4) hits Corona del Mar quarterback Kaleb Annett (11) and forces a fumble during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna head coach Andy George has water poured on him after his team defeats Corona del Mar during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna’s Owen Long (1) runs the ball for a touchdown against Corona del Mar during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna linebacker Adrian Castro, center, runs for yards against Corona del Mar during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar wide receiver Russell Weir, left, dives for the end zone defended by La Serna’s Jayden Northrup during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar running back Wyatt Lucas, bottom, is tackled by La Serna’s Jacen Alcaraz (26) during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna teammates celebrate after defeating Corona del Mar in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Second from left, Corona del Mar head coach Kevin Hettig and members of his team hold up a runner-up plaque at the end of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game against La Serna at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna linebacker Adrian Castro (44) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Corona del Mar during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar quarterback Kaleb Annett, center, is tackled by La Serna linebacker Adrian Castro during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar quarterback Kaleb Annett (11) throws the ball on the run against La Serna during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna quarterback CJ Ceron (5) dives into the end zone for a touchdown against Corona del Mar during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar running back Owen Sanders (22) runs the ball for yards against La Serna during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna quarterback CJ Ceron (5) passes the ball against Corona del Mar during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar head coach Kevin Hettig, center, looks on during the second half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna’s Jayden Northrup (2) stiff arms Corona del Mar’s Colin Pene (7) during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar takes the field during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game against La Serna at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar quarterback Kaleb Annett (11) hands the ball to running back Wyatt Lucas (26) against La Serna during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar quarterback Kaleb Annett (11) looks to pass against La Serna during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar head coach Kevin Hettig, left, embraces La Serna head coach Andy George at the end of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. La Serna won 49-29. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar running back Wyatt Lucas (26) runs the ball for yards against La Serna during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar wide receiver Russell Weir (8) misses a pass defended by La Serna’s Jayden Northrup (2) during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar running back Owen Sanders (22) runs the ball for yards against La Serna during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
WHITTIER — Corona del Mar’s football team made it into the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs as an at-large selection out of the Sunset League.
The Sea Kings then battled back from deficits in two of their first three playoff games to advance to the final against La Serna on Friday at California High School.
But the Sea Kings couldn’t slow down La Serna’s high-powered offense or outmuscle the Lancers defense.
La Serna was in control throughout most the contest, opening up a four-score lead by halftime and coming away with a 49-29 victory.
La Serna (11-3) sacked Sea Kings quarterback Kaleb Annett five times and pressured the senior to throw on the run several times.
Annett still completed 22 of 36 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns, but two of the three scoring passes came in the fourth quarter when the Lancers were well ahead.
The Sea Kings (8-6), who were making their first appearance in a CIF-SS final since 2019, didn’t score an offensive touchdown until the third quarter.
Corona del Mar’s only first-half touchdown came on a 92-yard kickoff return by Jaden Mwendepole.
The Sea Kings had first-and-goal on consecutive drives in first half but came away with only three points.
On the first drive, a 36-yard pass from Annett to Russell Weir gave the Sea Kings a first-and-goal on the 2.
A running play on first down resulted in a 2-yard loss and Annett was sacked on second down for a 10-yard loss.
After an incompletion on third down, the Sea Kings settled for a 31-yard field goal from Colin Pene for their first points of the game.
On the ensuing possession, an interception and 20-yard return from Cameron Benion gave the Sea Kings first-and-goal from the La Serna 10.
A sack for a 7-yard loss and two incompletions forced the Sea Kings to try a 36-yard field goal, but this attempt was no good.
The Lancers came close to putting the game away with a 28-point second quarter.
The Sea Kings forced the Lancers to punt on the first drive of the second half and then put together an 88-yard, 14-play scoring drive, capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Annett to Weir to make the score 35-16.
The Lancers turned the ball over on downs on their own 46 and the Sea Kings took advantage of the short field with a 12-play scoring drive, with Annett and Weir connecting again, this time for a 3-yard touchdown, getting the Sea Kings to within two touchdowns.
But the Lancers put to rest any hopes for a comeback when quarterback C.J. Ceron ran for a 44-yard touchdown to make the score 42-22 with under eight minutes remaining.
The Lancers averaged 49 points per game over their four playoff games and have not scored less than 40 points since Sept. 22 in a 35-21 defeat to Damien.
