Accuracy Pays Off for Newport

If football games were consistently won on streak patterns, tight spirals and prayers, then Ocean View High School quarterback Randy Karliner could heave his team to victory by a long margin on almost any given evening.

Accuracy was the catchword Friday night, however, and Newport Harbor’s quarterback, Stephen Scheck, had plenty of it. Scheck completed 12 of 14 passes to lead the Sailors to a 26-14 victory over Ocean View (1-1) in a nonleague game at Huntington Beach High.

Karliner aired it out for two touchdown passes--seven and 20 yards--and some impressive yardage. But while he piled up 191 yards through the air, Karliner connected on only 14 of his 30 passes. Scheck, however, threw for 117 yards, all in the first half and had a hand in setting up all three Newport Harbor touchdowns.

The first Sailor score came in the first quarter when tailback Todd Farley (17 carries for 86 yards) shrugged off a tackle at the line of scrimmage and broke free off the left side for a 29-yard touchdown run. On their next possession, the Sailors went 80 yards in 15 plays, capping the drive with a nine-yard, scoring pass over the middle from Scheck to tight end George Greenwalt, who had six catches on the night for 68 yards.

The Sailors (2-0) scored the decisive touchdown in the second quarter when an Ocean View gamble backfired. On fourth-and-eight at their own 22-yard line, the Seahawks tried a fake punt, but Karliner’s pass fell untouched. Newport Harbor took over, and five plays later, Farley squirted over from two yards out to give the Sailors a 21-0 lead.