Corona del Mar Roll Dice in Fourth Quarter and Emerge Victorious Against Warren Bears (2021)

Downey – Warren

Trailing by seven at the start of the fourth quarter, Corona del Mar football scored on two fourth-and-long situations in the final frame of their first playoff game since the team’s 2019 state championship run.

The Sea Kings took down Warren High School in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 Championships, coming from behind to defeat the Bears on the road 42-35 on Friday.

It only took a minute for CdM to kick off the high-scoring affair in Justice Stadium, when Sea Kings junior running back Evan Sanders took in a screen pass for a 16-yard touchdown.

Warren wasted no time tying the game up, as the Bears’ 6-foot-6 five-star quarterback Nicholaus Iamaleava took matters into his own hands, scoring a 7-yard rushing TD. After a successful 2-point attempt, Warren led CdM 8-7 with 8:21 left to play in the first quarter.

An 18-yard rushing TD along the left boundary by the Bears’ RB Marcus Higgs extended the Warren lead to 15-7 before the end of the first quarter.

In dire need of points, CdM orchestrated an 11-play scoring drive to begin the second quarter, capped off by a 1-yard QB keeper TD by Rasor that cut the lead to 1.

The ‘big play’ was a momentous factor for both teams Friday, and was first seen in the form of a 65-yard TD rush by Warren junior RB Romeo Clark late in the second quarter.

With a 22-14 lead over CdM, the Bears were tasked with a major setback when starting QB N. Iamaleava left the game with only a few minutes remaining in the half due to concussion protocol.

The top prospect did not return in the playoff game, and it proved detrimental for Warren.

Before halftime, CdM senior defensive lineman Dylan Wood recovered a fumble from Bears’ backup QB Madden Iamaleava, but the effect of the turnover was immediately nullified by a goal line interception by Warren senior cornerback Khalil Williams. Preventing a CdM score, Williams ensured that the score remained 22-14 at half.

Warren’s Clark pulled off another stunning run in the third quarter, taking an outside zone run 30 yards to the house. At that point leading 28-14, the Bears enjoyed their largest lead of the game. In line with the theme of the night, the Sea Kings did not let the lead stand.

Two plays later, after the San Gabriel Valley champions scored, E. Sanders broke loose for his own 45-yard house call. The All-Sunset League Second Team RB’s heroics narrowed the score to 28-21.

CdM scratched and clawed their way back into the game, and after forcing a punt, put together an eight-play scoring drive, which was highlighted by a 7-yard TD rush by Rasor. Reminiscent of Superman, Rasor went flying through the air parallel to the ground before landing in the endzone for the score. On fourth-and-goal, the decision to go for the touchdown paid off, and the Sea Kings tied the game for the first time since kickoff.

CdM junior WR Cooper Hoch, who muffed a punt return on the previous drive, forced a defensive breakdown in the Bears’ secondary, and redeemed himself for a 64-yard TD reception (Hoch 64-yard TD) to once again give the Sea Kings the lead.

If that sequence was not crazy enough, Bears senior wide receiver Joshua Johnson broke several tackles to take the following kick return all the way back for a touchdown.

Tied 35-35 with just over a minute left, CdM head coach Dan O’Shea was faced with a nightmare of a scenario with his offense on the field: Fourth-and-18, on the opponent’s 36-yard line — much too far for a field goal attempt, but far enough downfield to allow Warren a shot to win if the Sea Kings were to turn the ball over on downs.

O’Shea put all of his chips on his offense, which was led by a QB who was starting in his first ever playoff game in David Rasor.

Rasor took the snap, looked right, perhaps let out a prayer, and heaved the ball deep into the endzone towards his receiver Hoch. Sandwiched in double-coverage, Hoch leaped up and snatched the football at its high-point, secured the catch, and ultimately gave the Sea Kings lead with just a minute left to play.

The gamble paid off, and after back-to-back sacks from Wood on the final drive of the game, CdM knocked off Warren in a thrilling win to kick off the 2021 CIF playoffs, final score 42-35.

Hoch and Rasor caught up with Bibona right after the game.

The Sea Kings will host Orange Lutheran High School at Davidson Field (Newport Harbor High School) on Friday Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in the CIF-SS Div. 2 quarter final.