NEWPORT BEACH — The Norte fire forced the Bravo League game between Corona del Mar and Capistrano Valley to be rescheduled from Friday at Capistrano Valley High School to Saturday night at Newport Harbor High School.
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Dual-threat quarterback Talon Spencer and the Cougars were undaunted by the disruption.
Spencer rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Cougars’ 21-17 victory over the Sea Kings.
It was the first loss this season for the Sea Kings (7-1, 2-1), who are ranked No. 7 in Orange County.
“We were impacted but not in the way a lot of families were,” Cougars coach Sean Curtis said of the fire. “We’re super blessed to be able to play this game tonight.”
Corona del Mar held the Cougars (7-1, 2-1) scoreless in the second half and came within one play of winning the game, but backup quarterback Luca Dinapoli’s pass from the Cougars’ 24 on the final play of the game was incomplete.
Dinapoli entered the game after starter John Annett was sidelined with an injury late in the third quarter.
Annett’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Nolan Scott on the first drive of the game gave the Sea Kings an 8-0 lead.
The Cougars responded with a 13-play, 80-yard scoring drive, with Spencer rushing nine times for 60 yards on the drive, including a 4-yard touchdown run.
In Capistrano Valley’s second scoring drive, this one for 52 yards, Zayden Hall carried three times for 18 yards before Spencer capped the drive with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jolan Gonzalez to give the Cougars a 14-8 lead.
Capistrano Valley’s third score came on a seven-play, 60-yard drive, with Spencer running five times for 45 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown run that put the Cougars ahead 21-11.
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The first-half drives for the Sea Kings resulted in a touchdown, a field goal and an interception by Jolan Gonzalez, which set up the Cougars’ third touchdown.
But the Sea Kings kept the game close by playing excellent defense in the second half.
The Sea Kings held the Cougars to three-and-out on their first drive and stopped the Cougars from getting a first down on a fake punt on the second drive.
After the fake punt, Corona del Mar scored on a 10-yard touchdown run by Scott to get the Sea Kings to within one score of taking the lead.
The Sea Kings forced a punt on the Cougars’ third drive of the second half and caused a fumble on the fourth drive.
But Corona del Mar was unable to capitalize on the takeaway.
“We had a shot there at the end,” Corona del Mar coach Kevin Hettig said. “But there was so much that happened before that. I was really proud of our defense in the second half.”
Saturday’s game was an official home game for Corona del Mar.
Capistrano Valley High School is being used as an evacuation center.
Both schools agreed to play their game at Capistrano Valley next season.
“I want to give Corona del Mar credit for understanding the situation,” Curtis said. “So, credit to them for helping us do that.”
Several Cougars were out with the flu, and Curtis acknowledged that the extra day gave those players the opportunity to get healthy.
“At one point, we had 14 kids unable to practice,” the coach said. “Had the game been played last night, we probably wouldn’t have had a couple of the guys we had tonight.”
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