Hughes’ aerials propel CdM

NEWPORT BEACH — Taylor Hughes threw his second interception of the game a minute into the second quarter.

Nobody on the Corona del Mar High football team was terribly concerned. Not the coaches, Hughes’ receivers, nor the offensive line. Even Hughes himself remained calm despite the rocky start in the season opener.

And without any prodding or raising of voices, Hughes slipped back into form just as easily as he had slipped out of it and finished the half with 211 yards passing and three touchdowns.

The Sea Kings continued on to a 34-7 nonleague victory over Laguna Beach on Friday at Newport Harbor High.

Hughes, who exited the game after three quarters of work, was not surprised by the turnaround.

“I knew we’d come back,” Hughes said. “I kind of lofted it up there. [The team] was all good about it. I’m used to it, coming back.”

Out of the first-half flurry emerged a dangerous quarterback-to-receiver tandem. Senior Hunt Rychel caught four first-half passes from Hughes for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

“He’s a good guy,” Rychel said of Hughes, a senior transfer from Mater Dei High. “He’s our silent leader. I was not at all worried about him. I was confident.”

Hughes expects to have the same success in the future with senior receiver Steven Hillgren, who caught one pass for 17 yards.

“I should have done more with him,” Hughes said.

But on Friday, it was Hughes and Rychel who provided the highlights. On Hughes’ pass following his second interception, he hit Rychel on a deep crossing pattern in the middle of the field. Rychel broke for 90 yards and a touchdown to give the Sea Kings a 14-0 lead.

“We clicked pretty well,” Rychel said.

The 6-foot-3 receiver also provided thanks for the blocking from Hillgren’s downfield crackback block which sprang Rychel for the final distance, and the offensive line which allowed time for the deep pattern to develop.

“[Hillgren] really saved my butt,” Rychel said. “He helped me out a lot. The offensive line — I have to give them a hug. We wouldn’t have been able to do any of that without the offensive line’s hard work.”

Massive 6-7 left tackle John Joyce spoke for the offensive line, which also included starters James McKennon, Arion Lapuz, Colby Seymore and Steven Dean.

“I think it’s great for the quarterback and wide receivers,” Joyce said. “I feel good for the offensive line. Those on the line know it starts with us and it finishes with us.”

The Sea Kings were not finished scoring and Rychel and Hughes still had touchdowns to produce. The Sea Kings’ following drive began at the Breakers’ 34-yard line courtesy of an Austin Ray fumble recovery.

Hughes immediately hit Rychel for a 29-yard completion. A 12-yard connection on a quick slant gave Rychel another TD and upped the Sea Kings’ lead to 21-0.

With the passing attack extending the defense, it opened holes for the Sea Kings’ rushing game and Erik Rask and Will Brown combined for 166 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

“We backed people off with the passing and it allowed us to run the ball,” CdM Coach Dick Freeman said. “The offensive line did really well.”