Corona del Mar football defeats Newport Harbor again in Battle of the Bay

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NEWPORT BEACH — The longest, continuous rivalry for public schools in Orange County football filled Newport Harbor’s Davidson Field with a spirted, sold-out crowd Thursday.

The 65th edition of the Newport Harbor-Corona del Mar game drew large turnouts by the student sections, and all the sights and sounds of a neighborhood rivalry.

Corona del Mar quarterback JD Annett had seen it all before, and knew just what to do.

So did the Sea Kings’ defense.

Annett passed for 147 yards and one touchdown, and the Sea Kings’ defense had two goal-line stands at their 1-yard line, as Corona del Mar defeated Newport Harbor 16-6 in a nonleague game.

Corona del Mar’s defense produced a third defensive stand with an interception in the end zone by sophomore cornerback Nate Rothman with 4:17 left in the fourth to seal the victory.

Annett watched his brothers Kaleb and Brady play quarterback in several Battle of the Bay games before making his first start on Thursday.

“It’s amazing,” Annett said. “First start, first win as a starter. I couldn’t be more proud of this team. Our defense is a key part of this team.”

Corona del Mar won the rivalry game for the second consecutive year to trim’s Newport Harbor’s lead in the all-time series 40-25. The Sea Kings have won 12 of the past 14 meetings.

The Newport-Mesa district schools began playing in 1963.

Corona del Mar (4-0), ranked No. 8 in the county, recovered a fumble at its 1 on the final play of the third quarter to take a 16-0 into the fourth. Safety Tucker Murray recovered the ball as the Sea Kings challenged to post their first shutout in the series since 1993.

No. 25 Newport Harbor (2-2) responded early in the fourth quarter. After the Sailors’ defense forced a quick punt, Jackson Stremick returned a punt 40-yard for a score. The two-point conversion failed.

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Rothman intercepted a third-and-goal pass from the Corona del Mar 9.

“Just staying locked in the whole entire game is really important,” said Rothman, a first-year starter. “Getting pushed back to the 1, we still fight.”

Corona del Mar senior Troy Merriman helped the defensive line with a pass and pass deflection.

Corona del Mar led 10-0 at halftime following a pivotal ending to the second quarter.

Trailing 3-0 late in the half, Newport Harbor drove to the Corona del Mar 1 but came away empty after holding the ball for more than eight minutes.

The Sailors had second-and-goal at the 1 but Corona del Mar’s defensive pressure and penalties derailed the drive.

After a missed 25-yard field goal with 1:33 left, Annett drove Corona del Mar from its 20 to the Newport Harbor 24 with 18 seconds left in the half. The junior then lofted a 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver JJ Haley, who out-jumped two defenders with 14 seconds remaining.

Annett went 4 for 4 on the drive to finish the first half 10 of 11 for 121 yards.

Corona del Mar opened a 16-0 lead on a 2-yard TD run by Trejan Nixon in the middle of the third quarter.

Annett sparked the drive with a fourth-down completion to Nolan Scott.

In the first quarter, Annett drove Corona del Mar for a 39-yard field goal by Chuck Naylor late in first quarter.

Next week on Thursday, Sept. 17, Corona del Mar plays host to La Serna at Newport Harbor High. It will be the schools’ first meeting since La Serna defeated Corona del Mar 49-29 in the CIF-SS Division 4 final in 2023.

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Newport Harbor plays host to Colony on Friday, Sept. 18.

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