Newport Harbor cruises after taking early hit
Newport Harbor cruises after taking early hit
Newport Harbor vs. Corona del Mar
NEWPORT BEACH - They absorbed the first punch Friday, then they came back to deliver a solid pounding.
After allowing a touchdown on the opening kickoff, the No. 10 Newport Harbor Sailors scored 42 consecutive points in beating Corona del Mar, 42-13.
Senior running back Michael Helfrich led the thumping with 151 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.
"I was happy with the way we responded," Newport Harbor coach Jeff Brinkley said. "I was disappointed giving up that early touchdown on special teams. They just broke contain and got outside. But we came back very well."
Following Dillon Norton’s 91-yard scoring return, Corona del Mar attempted an onside kick, but Jason Jacobi recovered for the Sailors at midfield.
Six plays and barely two minutes later, Newport Harbor was in the end zone on Helfrich’s 7-yard run. Dillan Freiberg’s extra-point kick put the Sailors up for good.
The series was extended when Andrew McDonald passed to Gabe Gomez for 35 yards to convert a third down.
As the offense was starting to establish itself, Newport Harbor’s defense smothered the Sea Kings, who had only one first down in the first two quarters. Linebackers Brandon Kula and Ned Lyon both had sacks for big losses early.
"I thought we played really well defensively," Brinkley said. "The offense took a little while to get in sync. Once we did get it together, we ran the ball well. After we settled in we were good on both sides of the ball."
The Sailors outgained the Sea Kings 357 total yards to 104. They also had a first-down advantage of 15-7 and benefitted from a pair of safeties when Corona del Mar had problems with long snaps on punts.
McDonald finished with five completions for 155 yards and two touchdowns, hooking up with Cecil Whiteside for a 40-yard score and JB Green for a 48-yarder as Newport Harbor pulled away.
Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com
