CdM seeks to avoid half-empty feeling

Corona del Mar High football coach Jason Hitchens believes that any excitement generated by his team’s 2-0 start, and No. 2 ranking in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division, should be half-hearted.

The reason for the second-year head man’s assessment is a virtual split in effectiveness — by halves — in his team’s first two games.

The Sea Kings are hoping to put two halves together tonight, when they face Troy (1-0) in a nonleague clash at 7:30 at Orange Coast College.

“We have had our moments,” said Hitchens’ whose squad outscored Costa Mesa, 31-6, in the first two quarters and posted a 44-14 edge over Laguna Beach after intermission. “We’re still trying to find a full football game.”

To further fractionalize, CdM’s bright spots could be broken into thirds, with special teams joining offense and defense as areas worthy of periodic praise.

Junior Donald Dalton has returned kickoffs for touchdowns of 70 and 83 yards, while senior Justin Tam has blocked a punt that resulted in a CdM safety.

The offense, of course, was largely responsible for a school-single-game record 65 points in a 31-point triumph over Laguna Beach Friday.

Tailback J.D. Abbott and quarterback Michael Borchard, both seniors, have led the way. Abbott has 319 yards and five touchdowns on 26 rushing attempts, while Borchard has rushed for four TDs and thrown for 297 yards and another TD.

Dalton has six receptions for 111 yards, while Tam (four catches for 77 yards) and senior John Christian (four catches for 55 yards and one TD) are also part of the Sea Kings’ aerial attack.

CdM’s 99 points are the most after the opening two games in the program’s 48 seasons.

Last year’s 92 points had been the record.

Troy, with a dozen starters back and coming off a 42-14 season-opening trouncing of Brea last week, is led by senior running back DeAngelo Bonner.

Bonner, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2008, produced 146 yards and two touchdowns on 15 rushing attempts against Brea. He also turned one of his two receptions into a TD.

Senior quarterback Kyle Smith, another returning starter, completed four of seven passes as the trigger man to the Warriors’ wing-T scheme.

Last season, CdM recovered five Troy fumbles in an opportunistic 49-20 victory that included four one-play scoring drives, as well as a 92-yard kickoff return and a 52-yard punt return for scores.

CdM is attempting to start 3-0 for the second straight year and only the third time in the last 17 seasons.