PREP FOOTBALL : Newport Harbor Rallies for 19-14 Win

Newport Harbor High School overcame a 14-0 deficit with a strong, second-half performance that lifted the Sailors to a 19-14 victory over Huntington Beach Thursday night in front of 1,500 fans in Sheue Field at Huntington Beach.

The Sailors appeared to be on the way to their second loss following a 36-26 setback to Irvine last week. Huntington Beach scored on the game’s third play and then added a second touchdown after Oiler quarterback Joe Napoli burned the Sailor secondary with a 42-yard bomb.

“But if there’s anything I’ve learned in high school football, it’s that one of the worst things that can happen to a team is getting a quick lead,” said Mike Giddings, Newport Harbor coach. “They let down, and we came back.”

It was all Newport Harbor in the second half as the Sailors rallied behind the pass-and-catch combination of quarterback Shane Foley and wide receiver Mark Craig. Foley started poorly, completing only 4 of 9 passes in the first half for 28 yards.

But the lanky senior finished with a flurry, passing for 129 yards and scoring on a four-yard keeper in the second half. Foley’s touchdown tied the score, 14-14, with 6:39 remaining in the third quarter, and then the Sailors took the lead for good when Sterling Coberly kicked a 20-yard field goal later in the period.

Craig, a big target at 6-foot 6-inches, caught 8 passes for 111 yards, including 5 in Newport Harbor’s second-half comeback.

“I was terribly disappointed after last week’s game,” Giddings said. “I made up my mind to simplify things and wanted to see if the Sailors could play hard. We came so far in one week, and I’m really happy.”

Huntington Beach, rebounding from a 2-7-1 season last year, lost its first game of the season as the Oilers managed only three first downs in the second half. Huntington Beach saw its chances fade with 4:29 remaining to play when Oiler Coach George Pascoe elected to have his team try for a first down on its 16-yard line.

Huntington Beach needed three yards for a first down, but Napoli overthrew a pass, and Newport Harbor gained possession. The Sailors should have sealed the win, but fullback Kevin McClelland fumbled at the Oiler 1, and Huntington Beach’s Scott Elliott recovered the fumble.

Newport Harbor middle linebacker Jason Nedelman finished the scoring when he sacked Napoli in the end zone for a safety, and the Sailors had their second victory before they begin Sea View League play next week.

“We got a quick start and then got too excited,” Pascoe said. “We had a 14-0 lead and a first down in their territory (the Sailor 37-yard line), but didn’t score. If we go up, 21-0, the lights are out.