CdM Dominates Rancho Verde in Season Opener, 41-6 (2025)

Newport Beach – Davidson Field (NHHS)

Corona del Mar entered 2025 with plenty of buzz, and the Sea Kings wasted no time proving the hype was real. Behind a near-flawless first half from senior quarterback Brady Annett, CdM stormed past Rancho Verde 41-6 on Friday night at Davidson Field in Newport Beach.

Annett was spectacular, completing 12 of 14 passes for 244 yards and five touchdowns while also breaking free for a 49-yard rushing score — all before halftime. Two of his touchdown passes went to senior playmaker Dorsett Stecker and two more to rising sophomore JJ Haley, as CdM scored on every first-half possession to put the game away early.

“This puts O.C. on notice,” Annett said. “I mean, we’re a hell of a team. We showed it at Battle at the Beach, and we showed it tonight. We’re going to be special.”

The Sea Kings opened the game with lightning speed, covering 43 yards in just four plays for their first touchdown. Within the next nine minutes, they struck three more times — highlighted by Annett’s 49-yard sprint and quick-strike passes to Stecker and Haley — to build a commanding 28-0 lead before Rancho Verde could even earn a first down.

Stecker finished with five catches for 92 yards, while Haley added four grabs for 73 yards, including a six-yard touchdown reception and back-to-back chunk plays to set up Stecker’s second score just before halftime. Annett credited his offensive line — anchored by Judah Snow and Landon Rucker — for keeping him upright and giving him time to distribute the ball.

Head coach Kevin Hettig was thrilled with his team’s energy but kept perspective. “It’s got to be the start, right?” he said. “We can’t come out here and play the first game and then think we’ve arrived.”

Defensively, CdM was just as dominant. Linebacker Cash Pearsall and safety Canon Cook helped hold Rancho Verde to 10 yards on its first 11 plays, forcing punts on the Mustangs’ first three drives. By the time Rancho Verde found the end zone in the second half, the running clock was already in effect.

Stecker echoed the team’s mindset: “We know that we have to prove to the whole world that we’re not a team to mess with, and we’re that team.”

With a 1-0 start and the offense firing on all cylinders, the Sea Kings will hit the road Friday, August 29, to face Santa Barbara.