Newport Harbor Runs Over Corona del Mar

Playing the kind of ball-control football that made Woody Hayes grin, Newport Harbor ground out a 27-0 Sea View League victory over Corona del Mar Friday at Orange Coast College.

A week after taking to the air 30 times in a losing cause, the Sailors rediscovered the simple game plan that helped them win their first two games: run the ball.

The result was an overwhelming advantage in time of possession, the Sailors’ third shutout of the season and a satisfying league victory.

“I don’t think this team has gotten into sync yet,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “People don’t realize that before last week (quarterback) Mike Ofer only had a half game of experience as a varsity quarterback.”

Ofer missed four games after breaking his collarbone in the season-opener and returned last week in the Sailors’ 21-10 loss to Saddleback. He completed 14 of 30 passes for 160 yards, but Newport Harbor (4-3, 1-1) turned the ball over five times.

But not this week. Ofer only attempted four passes, completing three for 17 yards and two touchdowns. Going back to basics was all part of the plan.

“In practice this week, we ran plays over and over and over and got reps back to our running game,” Brinkley said. “It paid off tonight.”

It paid especially nicely for tailback Brandon Finney, who gained 175 yards in 30 carries before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter. Finney has gained 704 yards this season.

During the half, Finney, a 6-foot, 185-pound senior, led two time-consuming touchdown drives that gave the Sailors a 14-0. On the first, the Sailors took the opening kickoff, and Finney carried the ball on nine of 13 plays; the second he carried on 11 of 18 plays on a drive that ran 9 minutes 4 seconds off the clock.

The unstoppable ground game, led by an offensive line that averages 226 pounds, gave Ofer the room he needed to throw two play-action touchdown passes, of 10 yards to Justin McIntee and four yards to Darin Mangnall.

Corona del Mar (2-4-1, 0-2) was unable to move the ball on the ground, but quarterback Matt Evans, subbing for the injured Todd Kehrli, completed 10 of 20 for 109 yards.