Newport Harbor dominates Marina, 49-7

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor scored on its first two opening possessions and took a 28-0 lead at the half, as the Sailors overpowered Marina, 49-7, at Newport Harbor High on Friday to stay in the Sunset League playoff picture.

The No. 9 Sailors (6-3, 2-2) held the Vikings (2-7, 0-4) to just 19 yards of offense in the first half and finished the game with two interceptions.

Andrew McDonald threw three touchdown passes on 14-for-20 passing for 171 yards. J.B. Green hauled in six catches for 102 yards and two scores.

"We knew we had to win this game because we have to win out to have a shot at the playoffs," McDonald said.

"We can only do what's in our hands so we just have to come out, play hard and beat Los Alamitos next week."

McDonald connected with Cecil Whiteside for a 5-yard pass in the end zone on the team's opening drive to cap a six-play drive with 8:33left in the first quarter.

Whiteside's 16-yard catch and run on the next possession set up Brandon Kula's 1-yard touchdown run for an early 14-0 lead.

Michael Helfrich added a 64-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and McDonald's 16-yard pass to Green on a roll out pushed the lead to 28-0 at the half.

McDonald hooked up with Green again to open the second half — a 42-yard touchdown pass — and Chris Gute added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the third quarter.

Jarrid Balis caught Zach Couey's 19-yard pass in the end zone with 1:51left in the game to spoil Newport Harbor's bid for a shutout.

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com