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Corona del Mar quarterback John David Annett (4) throws the ball during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna wide receiver Landon Armenta (10) carries the ball during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar defensive back Nate Rothman (12) makes an interception during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna center back Etoagwara Onyenegecha (0), left, breaks up a pass intended for Corona del Mar wide receiver Nolan Scott (8) during a nonleague game between the two teams in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna’s Jordan Bonilla (2) carries the ball to the one-yard-line, leading to a touchdown on the following play, during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna quarterback Grady Long (1) throws the ball during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Little Sea Queens perform with Corona del Mar cheerleaders on the field during halftime of a football game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna running back Daniel Moreno (5) carries the ball on a touchdown run during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna quarterback Grady Long (1) throws the ball during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar wide receiver Nolan Scott (8) carries the ball during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna quarterback Grady Long (1) throws the ball while on the run during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar quarterback John David Annett (4) carries the ball for a touchdown on a quarterback keeper play during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna quarterback Grady Long (1) throws the ball during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar defensive back Nate Rothman (12), right, breaks up a pass intended for La Serna wide receiver Kenai Summage (4) during a nonleague game in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar players celebrate a touchdown by quarterback John David Annett (4), right, during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar quarterback John David Annett (4) throws the ball during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar quarterback John David Annett (4) carries the ball for a touchdown on a quarterback keeper play during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna wide receiver Landon Armenta (10) makes a catch while on the run during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna players take the field for the second half of a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar quarterback John David Annett (4) throws the ball during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna wide receiver Landon Armenta (10) carries the ball during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar wide receiver Henry Birchard (11) nearly comes up with a catch while on the run during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Corona del Mar quarterback John David Annett (4) throws the ball during a nonleague game against La Serna in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Serna quarterback Grady Long (1) throws the ball during a nonleague game against Corona del Mar in Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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NEWPORT BEACH – One might have guessed that Corona del Mar’s football program wouldn’t be too eager to book a nonleague game against La Serna after the way the 2023 CIF-SS Division 4 final turned out.
La Serna’s shotgun, spread, wing-T offense rushed for more than 300 yards and the Lancers scored almost 50 points to hoist the title plaque. But instead trying to avoid facing a rarely-used offense again, Corona del Mar craved to compete against La Serna on Thursday to close out its nonleague schedule.
The Sea Kings competed to the end.
JD Annett scored on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal with 1:05 left in the fourth quarter and Nolan Scott caught a pass from Annett for a 2-point conversion as Corona del Mar defeated La Serna 30-24 at Newport Harbor High.
The clash of undefeated teams produced four lead changes in the second half.
Corona del Mar (5-0) forced three turnovers in the game that led to 12 points.
“Proud of our kids (and) the way they fought,” Corona del Mar coach Kevin Hettig said. “So much respect for that program, and how they do things. We knew this was going to be a tough game.”
La Serna (4-1) reached the Corona del Mar 23 before a pass toward the end zone fell incomplete with one second left.
In the 2023 final, La Serna beat Corona del Mar 49-29.
“We probably watched (that game) 10 times getting ready,” said Corona del Mar defensive lineman Troy Merriman, who forced a key fumble that he recovered in the fourth quarter.
“We did a great job stopping the run. I feel like we have work to do in the pass game. We got to get a better pass rush but I’m proud of our guys. We fought.”
La Serna, ranked No. 2 in the San Gabriel Valley, took a 17-16 lead into the fourth quarter thanks to an impressive drive to open the second half.
The Lancers held the ball almost nine minutes in driving 80 yards on 13 plays for a 1-yard TD run by Xavier Nunez on third-and-goal. La Serna took its first lead after the extra-point by Evan Vesper.
The drama built from there.
In the middle of the fourth, Corona del Mar regained the lead at 22-17 on a 4-yard TD reception by Scott on third-and-goal.
The score came moments after the fumble recovery by Merriman.
La Serna responded with 42-yard touchdown pass from Grady Long to a wide open Alex Gaytan with 4:54 left to take a 24-22 advantage.
Long passed for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Landon Armenta had nine catches for 222 yards and broke tackles throughout the game.
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Annett threw for a career-high 289 yards and two TDs. Scott had seven catches for 115 yards.
“It was great for our football team to see adversity (and) to rise up to a battle,” La Serna coach Andy George said. “I got a lot of respect for them over there. We scheduled this game because I knew it would bring out the best in us, and I feel like it did.”
Corona del Mar, ranked No. 8 in Orange County, led 16-10 at halftime after a 35-yard field goal by Chuck Naylor with four seconds left.
Naylor’s boot helped the Sea Kings’ two-minute offense respond after Vesper kicked a 23-yard field goal with 2:07 left remaining in the second quarter.
Corona del Mar jumped to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter.
Annett broke a 36-yard touchdown run on third-and-4 on a keeper in the middle of the period.
Corona del Mar led 6-0 after the extra-point failed.
Annett’s run capped a swift, 70-yard scoring drive sparked by 28-yard completion to JJ Haley.
On the ensuing possession, Corona del Mar’s defense stripped a La Serna running back for a fumble that Scott recovered at the Lancers 35.
Six plays later, Annett threw a 13-yard TD pass to Tucker Murray on third-and-5. The Sea Kings led 13-0.
La Serna responded on the next play from scrimmage with a 74-yard touchdown reception by a Daniel Moreno on a deep pass from Long.
Corona del Mar defensive back Nate Rothman nabbed his second interception in as many games late in the first quarter but the Sea Kings couldn’t capitalize.
Next week, Corona del Mar takes its bye before opening the Bravo League against Villa Park on Oct. 2 at El Modena High.
La Serna also takes its bye next week before opening the Gateway League at Warren on Oct. 2.
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