Yorba Linda Holds Off Corona Del Mar 21-14 in Regular Season Finale (2024)

Newport Beach – Davidson Field

The Corona Del Mar football team fell short to Yorba Linda, falling 21-14 on Friday at Davidson Field in the regular season finale for both teams.

The Mustangs had already locked up the Bravo League’s No.2 automatic qualifier while Sea Kings needed to win to guarantee themselves a .500 record and to make a case to make the playoffs.

Early on, Yorba Linda struck first as Holden Nagin found Tanner Eilers for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give his team a 7-0 lead. Corona Del Mar struggled in the opening quarter, totaling seven penalties for 65 yards.

The Mustangs added to their lead as Isaiah Trujillo ran it in for a one-yard to make the score 14-0 early in the second quarter. That proved to be the last of the scoring in the first half, as both teams struggled to gain traction offensively.

The Sea Kings’ best chance at possibly scoring came about over halfway through the second quarter when they had a promising drive going. But an interception by Jake Lopez derailed their hopes of getting on their board.

Fortunately, Corona Del Mar’s defense was stout, forcing Yorba Linda to punt and abort any chances of extending the lead and possibly pulling away.

After a promising opening drive for the Sea Kings to start the second half, they turned it over on downs. But on the Mustangs’ next drive, Damian Zeno-Herrera recovered a fumble for the home team in enemy territory.

Corona Del Mar made Yorba Linda pay on that fumble, as Brady Annett hit Garrett James for a 29-yard touchdown pass to get his team on the board and cut Yorba Linda’s lead down to 14-7.

But the Mustangs answered back, as the Sea Kings were whistled for two straight facemask penalties, which put the Mustangs in Sea King territory. Eventually, Yorba Linda cashed in on a 17-yard touchdown run from Aidan Gutierrez to put the team up 21-7.

Corona Del Mar managed to get the ball into Mustang territory on its next drive, but turned it over on downs, which made things much more difficult for it to try and make a comeback. Yorba Linda’s next drive saw them chew up almost half of the fourth quarter and force the Sea Kings to use two of their three time outs.

Despite being pinned back at their own three yard line via the Mustangs’ punt, Corona Del Mar managed to drive down the field and get the score courtesy of Annett finding Breck Clemmer for a 12-yard touchdown.

Instead of onside kicking the ball, the Sea Kings pooch kicked it with the Mustangs taking over. After taking its last time out on the first play of Yorba Linda’s drive, the worst thing that could happen did happen for Corona Del Mar – it was whistled for a penalty.

Eventually, the Mustangs ran out the clock and celebrated the win on the field that saw their season come to an end last season in the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs.

The Sea Kings were without Zach Giuliano who had a calf injury and Emori Davis who had a lower leg injury. Despite the loss, Mustangs head coach Jeff Bailey thinks that Corona Del Mar deserves a spot in the playoffs.

Corona Del Mar (4-6, 1-4) will find out their playoff fate on Sunday at 10 a.m. when the CIF-SS football playoff brackets get released. The last time the Sea Kings missed the postseason was 2009, which was also the year they also finished below .500.