Yorba Linda’s William Saucedo was almost unstoppable against Corona Del Mar during their CIF semi-final game.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
YORBA LINDA – Yorba Linda dominated the game from the start in its 51-20 win over Corona del Mar in a CIF Southern Section Division 3 football semifinal playoff game Friday at Yorba Linda High.
The Mustangs take a 13-0 record into the CIF-SS championship game in which they will play Upland.
Upland, which defeated Bishop Diego 17-7 in Friday’s other Division 3 semifinal, will be the home team and can play the game at its on-campus stadium. The Division 3 bracket indicates the championship game is Friday, Nov. 25, but that could change.
William Saucedo, left, celebrates a score with a teammate during their CIF semi-final game against Corona Del Mar.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s Jason Escovar walks into the end zone untouched during their CIF semi-final game.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s Dylan Gardner rushes early in the first half of his team’s CIF semi-final game against Corona Del Mar.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s Nick Wilson celebrates his team’s win over Corona Del Mar, sending the undefeated Mustangs to the CIF finals next week. Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda fans celebrate a score during the first half of the CIF semi-final game. Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s William Saucedo, left, celebrates a second half touchdown with his teammates.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar’s Colin Pene races downfield late in the second quarter of his team’s game against Yorba Linda.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar’s Zach Giuliano looks for space for more yardage during his team’s game against Yorba Linda High.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s William Saucedo was almost unstoppable against Corona Del Mar during their CIF semi-final game.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s Owen Sahyoun sacks Corona Del Mar’s David Rasor for a loss during their game.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar’s Cooper Hoch, center, prepares to straight arm a Yorba Linda defender. Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s Ryan Gary, left, tackles Corona Del Mar’s Coin Pene, right, during their CIF semi-final game.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s William Saucedo falls forward for maximum yardage in the CIF game against Corona Del Mar.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s William Saucedo, center, leaps over a Corona Del Mar defender during the second quarter.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Corona Del Mar’s David Rasor, center, breaks into Yorba Linda’s secondary during their CIF semi-final game.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s William Saucedo breaks through the Corona Del Mar defense.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s Wayne Mosier recovered a fumble late in the second half to set up another score.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda’s Jayden Flaig attempts to elude a Corona Del Mar defender. Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
The Corona Del Mar team breaks through their banner at the start of their game against Yorba Linda.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
The Yorba Linda team breaks through their banner at the beginning of their game. Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Isla Herman, 6, of Los Alamitos plays with a pom pom before the start of the CIF semi-final game between Corona Del Mar and Yorba Linda High.
Photographed on Friday, Nov, 18, 2022 in Yorba Linda, California by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda won the CIF-SS Division 8 title in 2016, the school’s only previous appearance in a CIF championship football game.
Corona del Mar finished the season 9-4. The Sea Kings finished third in the six-team Sunset League.
Yorba Linda senior quarterback Reyn Beal completed his first seven passes and finished with 13 completions on 14 attempts for 249 yards and two touchdowns.
Will Saucedo rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns for the Mustangs. Jason Escovar ran for two touchdowns, and Jayden Flaig had a touchdown catch and kicked a 40-yard field goal. Yorba Linda linebacker Wyatt Mosier had an interception and a fumble recovery.
“It was a great team win,” said Yorba Linda coach Jeff Bailey. “Defense played hard all night … bend don’t break, no big plays. The offense executed well.”
Corona del Mar senior quarterback David Rasor threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns.
Mosier said the Mustangs prepared for what they knew was an excellent Corona del Mar passing attack.
“When the ball is thrown, just break on the ball and try to make a play,” Mosier said. “We forced a couple turnovers and rallied to the ball.”
Yorba Linda scored on its game-opening possession. Saucedo got the touchdown on a 7-yard run. A 13-yard touchdown run by Escovar made it 13-0; the point-after kick was wide right.
Corona del Mar scored on a 19-yard pass from Rasor to Mason Kubichek to reduce the Yorba Linda lead to 13-7.
Yorba Linda responded quickly, with Beal floating a pass to a very open JJ Conrad who caught the ball at the Corona del Mar 40 before sprinting down the left sideline for the touchdown and a 20-7 advantage.
An interception by the Mustangs’ Nicco Nicoletti set up the next Yorba Linda touchdown, a 16-yard run by Escovar that pushed the lead to 27-7. Flaig kicked his 40-yard field goal with 1:27 remaining in the half to make it 30-7.
Yorba Linda got third-quarter touchdowns on a 13-yard reception by Flaig and a 1-yard run by Saucedo, who added a 22-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter that was played with a running clock.
