Newport Harbor Stops Ocean View Cold, 34-0

With starting quarterback Mike Ofer watching from the sidelines with a broken collarbone, Newport Harbor’s football team turned to its running game and defense Friday night against Ocean View.

And both delivered. Big time.

Newport Harbor’s Brandon Finney rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown, and the Sailors capitalized on two Ocean View turnovers late in the first half of a 34-0 victory at Huntington Beach High School.

The Sailors (2-0) had 237 yards rushing, including 73 yards and two touchdowns by fullback Tony Mancuso. Fourteen of the Sailors’ 16 first downs were by rushing, most coming on bruising runs up the middle by Finney and Mancuso.

Meanwhile, Newport Harbor’s defense held Ocean View (1-1) to 105 yards total offense and forced five Hawk turnovers.

Sailor linebacker Darin Mangnall had two interceptions and a fumble recovery, twice setting up touchdowns with big defensive plays. Ocean View quarterback Joe Fraser was intercepted four times.

Ofer, who broke his collarbone in the Sailors’ season-opening victory over Orange last week, was replaced by junior Greg Williams. Williams was consistent in his debut, completing five of eight passes for 44 yards, including a three-yard touchdown pass to Jason Lawson in the second quarter.

“Greg did a good job running the offense,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “We wanted to run the ball well and complete a few passes early to get him going.”

The Sailors executed their script to perfection on their first possession, marching 80 yards in 14 plays, finishing with a 12-yard run up the middle by Finney.

Newport Harbor pulled away late in the second quarter behind two big defensive plays by Mangnall.

He intercepted a Fraser pass at the Newport Harbor 48-yard line and returned it to the Ocean View 43. Finney ran for 31 yards as the Sailors moved to the three, then Williams threw his touchdown pass to Lawson with 2:32 left in the quarter.

But Mangnall wasn’t finished. On Ocean View’s next play from scrimmage, he recovered a Fraser fumble at the Ocean View 18. Five plays later, Mancuso scored from the one with 41 seconds left. The Sailors led, 21-0, at halftime.

Brinkley had been concerned before the game about whether his players could defend Ocean View’s run-and-shoot passing offense, which features Fraser and wide receiver Al Fanoga. But Fraser completed only seven of 16 passes for 51 yards, and Fanoga had two catches for 11 yards.