Newport Harbor Beats La Habra

Newport Harbor High School scored twice in the first half and that was enough to hold off La Habra, 14-6, in a nonleague game Thursday night at La Habra.

Newport Harbor (3-1) didn’t do much, however, toward derailing Jason Johnson, one of Orange County’s leading rushers. Johnson gained 140 yards in 26 carries and scored the Highlanders’ only touchdown on a 35-yard run with 8 minutes 25 seconds left in the third quarter.

The lack of a consistent passing game offset Johnson’s performance. La Habra (3-1) was forced to substitute Grant Mitchell at quarterback for his brother Greg, who injured his shoulder last week. Grant Mitchell completed only six of 15 passes for 51 yards.

Newport Harbor’s two touchdowns came in a span of a little more than a minute in the first half.

Russell Olshefski scored on a two-yard run with 6:52 remaining to put the Sailors ahead, 7-0. Following an interception by Michael Stipe, the Sailors scored again on a 30-yard pass play from quarterback Steve Walker to tight end George Greenwalt.

On the downside, the teams combined to commit 15 penalties for 137 yards.