Corona Del Mar Keeps the Bell With Defensive Win Over Newport Harbor

Newport Beach – The Bell, also known as the Mariners Telegraph, will be staying on Eastbluff Drive, as the Corona Del Mar football team took down Newport Harbor 16-6 on Thursday at a sold out Davidson Field.

In defeating their rival for the second straight year, the Sea Kings also continued its stellar start, moving to 4-0 for as many times in as many years. They also now have won 12 of the last 14 meetings against the Sailors, who still lead the overall series 40-25.

Throughout most of the first half, scoring came at a rarity, as both team’s defenses rose to the occasion. The first score came courtesy of Corona Del Mar’s Chuck Nailor, who nailed a 39-yard field goal halfway through the opening quarter.

Newport Harbor struggled to move the ball offensively, but its best opportunity to score came in the second quarter. The Sailors had a drive that used up a little over six minutes as they got all the way down to the opponent’s one-yard line.

But a false start penalty and two holding penalties put Newport Harbor on the 26 on third down where it got back to the seven to attempt a 22-yard field goal. The field goal was missed, however, as the Sea Kings got the ball with about two minutes to go before halftime.

With two timeouts to add, that was enough time for Corona Del Mar to drive down the field, as they capped off a 75-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass from JD Annett to JJ Haley. The Sea Kings went into halftime up 10-0.

Corona Del Mar’s defense continued to hold Newport Harbor’s offense at bay and when it got the ball back, it made the most of its opportunity, Coupled with defensive penalties on the Sailors and a conversion on 4th and 11, the Sea Kings went down the field adding another touchdown, as Trejan Nixon scored from two yards out.

The extra point was missed due to it being longer than expected after Corona Del Mar was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty after the touchdown, making the score 16-0. Penalties were what the Sea Kings struggled with despite having success on offense and defense.

With the third quarter winding down, Newport Harbor had another chance inside the red zone, getting to the two-yard line. But a fumble at the one-yard line caused by Corona Del Mar’s Zach Cox and recovered by Kingston Osbrink ended that drive, preventing another red zone threat.

Despite getting the stop, the Sea Kings went three and out, as Jackson Stremick got the Sailors on the board with a 40-yard punt return touchdown. Newport Harbor went for the two-point conversion, but it was unsuccessful, as Corona Del Mar led 16-6.

With a little less than five minutes remaining, the Sailors did get the ball and got into the red zone yet again. But as Jordan Spigarell tried to find Parker Stringham in the endzone, Nate Rothman jumped the passing lane and picked off the pass.

The Sea Kings eventually worked the clock to their advantage, as once the clock hit zero and all of the players were done shaking hands, the Sea Kings’ students stormed the field knowing that The Bell would be staying at their school for a second straight year.

Corona Del Mar returns to action on Thursday when they host La Serna at 7 p.m. It’ll be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2023 CIF-SS Division 4 finals, as the Lancers, who also enter the contest 4-0, won 49-29.

Newport Harbor, which has now lost two straight after starting 2-0, returns to action Friday when it hosts Colony at 7 p.m. The Titans earned its first win of the season, beating Grand Terrace 31-0.