PREP FOOTBALL : Sea View League : Corona del Mar Uses Foes’ Mistakes to Win

Newport Harbor High School watched playoff hopes slip through its fingers Friday night. Again and again and again.

The Sailors fumbled 7 times, losing 3. They also had a punt blocked, a pass intercepted, 2 mishandled kickoffs and a bobbled punt, which left Newport Harbor with no field position to speak of.

Such generosity was more than enough for opportunistic Corona del Mar, which turned mistakes into points for a 27-8 victory at Newport Harbor to clinch the Sea View League championship.

Newport Harbor (3-7, 2-3) finished fifth but could have made the playoffs with a victory Friday.

“We started the season turning the ball over and losing and we finished the same way,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “You make that many mistakes against a good football team and you’re going to have problems.”

Newport Harbor’s problems were evident from the start.

Fullback Tom Walker fumbled on the Sailors’ first possession, killing a drive at the Corona del Mar 34-yard line.

On Newport Harbor’s next possession, quarterback Steve Scheck fumbled a snap from center and Ron Akin recovered on the Sailors’ 15-yard line. Two plays later quarterback Ty Price threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Jackson.

Late in the first quarter, Newport Harbor had the ball on its 47. Scheck dropped back to pass, but was blind-sided by Todd Muth. Scheck fumbled and Chris Deuchar recovered.

That set up the Sea Kings’ most sustained drive of the night, as they went 42 yards in 5 plays. Brian Lucas finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run and a 13-0 lead.

“Turnovers are what you wait for in high school football,” Corona del Mar Coach Dave Holland said. “We’ve been able to take the ball away from the other team this season.”

The 13-point deficit forced Newport Harbor to throw more, when it could. The Sea Kings, who have 4 shutouts this season, put on a heavy pass rush, sacking Scheck 4 times. They also sacked Scheck’s replacement, Tim Newberry, 4 times and intercepted a pass for good measure.

Brett Allen had 5 of the sacks. The Sea Kings (8-0-2, 3-0-2) held the Sailors to 18 total yards in the first half and 99 yards for the game.

Allen also scored Corona del Mar’s third touchdown late in the second quarter, returning a punt blocked by Pat Callaghan 18 yards for a touchdown.

At that point, the Sea Kings had 58 total yards and a 21-0 lead.

Running back Greg Haack provided most of Corona del Mar’s offense as he rushed for 65 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

The Sea Kings had 221 total yards. But it was a night in which they didn’t need much offense.