SEA VIEW LEAGUE : Tift Comes Back With a Rush as Newport Harbor Beats Tustin

Newport Harbor running back Wade Tift rushed for 209 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Sailors to a 23-7 victory over Tustin at Newport Harbor Friday night.

Tift, a senior who was playing in his first game since separating his shoulder three weeks ago, paced a strong Newport Harbor rushing attack. He carried 37 times and scored on runs of five and 47 yards. He also kicked a 20-yard field goal.

“It’s great having him back in the lineup,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “We’ve been struggling the last few games and this one was nicer.”

Tustin (3-4, 1-3) took an early 7-0 lead on Lamar Barrett’s two-yard run. Barrett started the game in place of Jason Reynolds, the Tillers’ leading rusher who transferred to St. Paul this week.

Newport Harbor (6-1, 3-1) led 10-7 after three quarters, but had to withstand a scare early in the final quarter. Tustin had the ball at the Sailors’ seven-yard line after recovering a fumbled punt. On third down, Chris Edwards intercepted Tiller quarterback Kevin Timone’s pass in the end zone.

The Sailors then drove 80 yards in 13 plays with Edwards catching a three-yard pass from Ryan Smith to make the score 17-7 midway through the fourth quarter. Newport Harbor recovered the kickoff and on the first play, Tift broke free up the middle for a 47-yard scoring run that put the game out of reach.

“This was as complete a win as we’ve had all season,” Brinkley said. “It was a big step for us.”

After Tustin drove 69 yards for their opening touchdown, the Newport Harbor defense tightened up, holding the Tillers to 38 net yards the remainder of the game.