Orange County Prep Saturday : Corona del Mar Takes Out Frustration in Win : Sea Kings, Trailing 14-10, Score 21 Points in Last Quarter to Beat Costa Mesa

The frustration of Corona del Mar High School’s football season came to a head Friday night and then came to an end.

After four consecutive losses, two by fewer than four points, the Sea Kings made certain of victory with 21 fourth-quarter points in a 31-14 nonleague victory over Costa Mesa in front of 700 in LeBard Stadium.

Trailing 14-10 with 10:18 remaining in the game, the Sea Kings (1-4) put together a time-consuming 80-yard drive, ending with Matt Patterson’s one-yard run for a touchdown. Defensive backs Kurt Ehmann and Scott McCarter then each returned an interception for a touchdown in the final two minutes to add to the margin of the victory.

“We made up for a lot mistakes in the fourth quarter,” Dave Holland, Corona del Mar coach, said. “What really made me happy is that we were able to drive the length of the field after Costa Mesa had taken the lead. That’s something we are going to have to do to be a good football team.”

However, it wasn’t easy.

Costa Mesa’s Terry Bryant, who rushed 95 yards in 26 carries, put the Mustangs (1-4) ahead, 14-10, with a 10-yard run for a touchdown. The Sea Kings took over on their own 20-yard line and proceeded to take nearly nine minutes off the clock.

Twice, quarterback Mitch Melbon prolonged the drive with fourth-down plays. On fourth and one at the Costa Mesa 25, he picked up three yards on a quarterback sneak. Four plays later, on fourth and 11, he completed a pass to Kevin Maas, who made a leaping catch at the six.

Melbon completed 10 of 17 passes for 138 yards.

With a first down on the six, Patterson ran the ball three consecutive times, scoring on the last carry. Patterson, who gained 128 yards in 30 carries, also ran five yards for a touchdown in the first half.