Sailors get sub spark

DANA POINT - With its starting tailback on the sideline, Newport Harbor turned to reserve Michael Helfrich to spark its offense.
Helfrich did that and more as he rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns to help lead the Sailors to a 28-14 victory over Dana Hills (0-5) in a nonleague game at Dana Hills High.
Sailors coach Jeff Brinkley said he had full confidence in Helfrich, who was filling in for Ben Frazier (injured knee).
“Michael ran the ball well, but we knew he could run. He had a big game against Fountain Valley last year,” Brinkley said.
Helfrich scored the first touchdown on a 1-yard run. He added an 8-yard score in the fourth to give the Sailors (3-1) a 28-6 lead.
QB Andrew McDonald connected on 9 of 11 passes for 232 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown pass to J.B. Green. Green had a big night with three catches for 108 yards.
Dana Hills (0-5) moved the ball well against Newport Harbor, but twice came away with zero points after driving inside the Sailors’ 10-yard line. The first drive stopped following an interception by Miller, while the second stalled after a dropped pass in the end zone on a fourth-down play.
"Our defense bent a little, but they didn’t break," said Brinkley.
Brett Giesen tallied Dana Hills’ first touchdown on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, and Dylan Denso added the second on a 19-yard pass from Sean Schroeder in the game’s final seconds. Denso was Schroeder’s favorite target on the night as he caught eight passes for 69 yards. Schroeder completed 18 of 27 passes for 153 yards.