Palos Verdes receiver Owen Wishner with big third down conversion reception against Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes running back Dominick Hernando cuts thru traffic for big gain against Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes defensive back Jon Sarmiento falls to turf after intercepting pass to ice 21-17 win over Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes defensive back Jon Sarmiento (6) celebrates intercepting pass to ice 21-17 win over Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes receiver Cole Norman celebrates TD catch against Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes linebacker Weston Reis (44) celebrates big stop against Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar receiver Alexander Nickin is stopped by Palos Verdes defender Jalen Flowers during nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar running back Wyatt Lucas breaks into open field against Palos Verdes in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes QB Ryan Rakowski escapes jersey tug from Corona Del Mar’s Finn Grimstead during nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes QB Ryan Rakowski is dropped near goal line by Corona Del Mar’s Damian Zeno-Herrera during nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes receiver Cole Norman pulls in game winning TD pass in 21-17 win over Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar running back WyattLucas slips tackle of Palos Verdes safety Camren Hughes in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes QB Ryan Rakowski eyes a receiver downfield against Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar receiver Zach Giuliano breaks tackled to score TD in first half against Palos Verdes in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes receiver Cole Norman celebrates his TD catch against Corona Del Mar during nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes QB Ryan Rakowski is stopped after short run against Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes QB Ryan Rakowski throws a pass against Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar running back Wyatt Lucas puts a move on Palos Verdes defender during nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Palos Verdes receiver Camren Hughes breaks tackle of Corona Del Mar defender Colton Eggleston during nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar QB Max Nashed throws pass against Palos Verdes in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar running back Wyatt Lucas is tackled by Palos Verdes linebacker Owen Wishner during nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar receiver Zach Giuliano breaks tackled to score TD in first half against Palos Verdes in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar QB Max Nashed throws pass against Palos Verdes in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar running back Wyatt Lucas breaks into open field against Palos Verdes in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar running back Wyatt Lucas is tackled by Palos Verdes linebacker Owen Wishner during nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
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Palos Verdes receiver Owen Wishner with big third down conversion reception against Corona Del Mar in nonleague Football game Friday Sept. 8, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
PALOS VERDES ESTATES – The Palos Verdes football team lost the bulk of the group that rolled past all 10 regular-season foes last year en route to the CIF Southern Section’s elite Division 2 playoffs, and Guy Gardner wasn’t certain what kind of team he’s got this time, especially after last week’s dreadful defeat at Carlsbad.
He found out Friday afternoon, when the Sea Kings, riding a tremendous performance from sophomore star Ryan Rakowski and a defensive effort backed by two massive Jon Sarmiento interceptions, rallied from a second-half deficit to pull out a stunning 21-17 triumph over visiting Corona del Mar.
Palos Verdes (2-1), seemingly on the verge of being blown out several times in the third quarter, stayed close behind Rakowski’s ability to make plays from nothing, then went on two long marches to overcome a 10-point deficit and pull out the victory on Cole Norman’s second touchdown reception and Sarmiento’s pick at the Palos Verdes 30 with 2:07 to play.
“It was a nice effort by our guys, especially [after] last week,” Gardner said once the celebration died down. “This was a test for us, how we were going to come out, how are you going to learn from something like we did last week and got beat pretty good. I’m happy with the progress we made. It’s far from perfect, but I thought our effort was pretty close to perfect.”
They needed every bit of it. Rakowski spent much of the afternoon roaming in search of open receivers and eluding would-be tacklers, and the visitors, also the Sea Kings, could have had 21 points by halftime with better fortune. Corona del Mar appeared to be in control after quickly driving 80 yards for a 17-7 edge to start the second half, but it was all Palos Verdes the rest of the way.
“[We learned] we’re going to play hard, and if we do that, that gives you a chance,” Gardner said. “There’s a lot of work for us to do, but it’s certainly a nice direction.”
Corona del Mar (2-1) drove to the Palos Verdes 6 the first time it had the ball, after Palos Verdes’ Dylan Freebury went wide on a 38-yard field-goal try, but Sarmiento’s end-zone interception ended the threat. Corona del Mar forced successive three-and-outs and grabbed a 10-0 lead on Max Nashed’s 19-yard, fourth-down completion to Zach Giuliano and – after big defensive plays by Max Bates and Josh Williams stopped Corona del Mar inside the 10 – a 25-yard Joseph DiBello field goal.
Palos Verdes responded with a 65-yard drive capped by Rakowski’s 15-yard TD pass to Norman with 7 seconds to play in the half, a score set up when the QB, on fourth and 8, eluded several defenders before tossing a cross-field lob from the right sideline that Morley Boyd hauled in over his shoulder at the 7.
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Corona del Mar restored its advantage on Nashed’s 18-yard screen pass to Wyatt Lucas, but it was Palos Verdes’ game the rest of the way. Rakowski, who threw for 156 yards (on 14-of-24 passing) and ran for another 57 (losing 15 on three long-snap kneel-downs at the finish), led two scoring drives featuring five third-down and two fourth-down conversions.
It was 17-14 late in the third quarter on Dominik Hernando’s 2-yard run two plays after Rakowski found Morley for a 28-yard gain at the Corona del Mar 8 on fourth and 18. Palos Verdes then drove 72 yards on 16 snaps – aided by an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that turned a fourth-and-20 situation into a fourth and 5 converted by Hernando – with Rakowski finding Norman from 19 yards with 5:11 to play.
Sarmiento’s second interception and a third-down Rakowski pass to Owen Wishner ended any remaining suspense.
“This one feels really different, especially after last week,” Norman said. “Beating CdM, the other Sea Kings … we’re the real Sea Kings after that.”
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