Is CdM’s run defense ready for Troy?

Though the Corona del Mar High football team will play host to Troy

in Friday’s 7 p.m. nonleague game at Newport Harbor High, the Sea

Kings, for the first time this season, are venturing out of the

neighborhood.

The Sea Kings (2-0) have gained experience, momentum and

confidence by handling Newport-Mesa rivals Costa Mesa and Estancia by

a combined margin of 63-13.

But Troy (0-1), a 40-27 loser to Westminster Friday, offers a much

more significant test, CdM Coach Dick Freeman believes.

“We know we’re playing a good football team,” said Freeman, who is

3-0-1 against the Warriors, including a 44-28 triumph last season.

A step up in class also comes with a departure from the spread

offenses the CdM defense has stuffed its first two games.

Costa Mesa and Estancia managed just 2 rushing yards each against

the Sea Kings, combining for a mere 128 yards of total offense.

But Troy’s wing T will force CdM’s linebackers to play more

physically, Freeman said.

“We’ll move the linebackers closer to the line and they’re going

to have to take stuff on,” Freeman said of his five-linebacker unit

in the three-stack alignment.

Those five ‘backers average just 186 pounds, prompting one to

wonder if Troy will have an advantage.

“Are we undersized? I guess we’ll find out,” Freeman said. “But

Troy is not huge, offensively, and we’ve stood up to people before.

Sometimes a tough little guy does just fine.”

The Sea Kings will likely need more offensive balance against a

four-six scheme used by the Troy defense.

CdM, which will continue with its two-quarterback rotation of

seniors Shaun Mohler and Colin Wigley, has needed little in the way

of a passing attack thus far.

Mohler is 5 for 10 for 86 yards and one touchdown, while Wigley is

4 of 9 for 120 yards and one TD.

Senior tailback Matt Loyd has rushed for 277 yards and three TDs

on 42 carries this fall to pace an efficient CdM ground attack.

Junior Steve Hillgren is the Sea Kings’ leading receiver with four

catches for 142 yards and two TDs.

Troy features senior running back Derrick Coleman, who produced

145 yards and three TDs on 14 carries in the opener.

Chris Ramirez rushed for 75 yards on nine attempts for the

Warriors against Westminster.

Troy quarterback Tyler Swaney, a sophomore, was 5 for 9 for 50

yards in the opener.

CDM STARTERS

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OFFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

10 Colin Wigley 6-1 170 Sr. QB 5 Matt Loyd 5-10 175 Sr. TB 45 Matt Burgner 6-0 225 Sr. FB

2 Steve Hillgren 5-10 170 Jr. WR 8 Charlie Albright 5-9 165 Jr. WR

46 Avery Fenton 6-3 230 Sr. TE

60 John Fairbanks 6-3 240 Sr. LT

79 Aroin Lapuz 5-9 221 Jr. LG

61 Taylor Peselk 6-1 250 Sr. C

75 James McKennon 6-0 190 So. RG

76 Max Prescott 6-2 230 So. RT

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DEFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

45 Matt Burgner 6-0 225 Sr. DE

60 John Fairbanks 6-3 240 Sr. NG

55 Keaten Price 6-2 210 Jr. DE

13 Erik Rask 6-0 170 So. LB

7 Shaun Mohler 6-3 200 Sr. LB

74 Michael Kidushim 5-8 175 So. LB

1 Hunt Rychel 6-3 205 Jr. LB

3 Ford Noe 6-1 190 Jr. LB 5 Matt Loyd 5-10 175 Sr. CB 2 Steve Hillgren 5-10 170 Jr. CB 8 Charlie Albright 5-9 165 Jr. S

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