Orange County Sports : The Preps : Newport Harbor Improves Chances for Playoff Berth

Two teams with everything to lose played with the passion you would expect in such circumstances.

With a playoff berth at stake, Wade Tift scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns Saturday to help Newport Harbor overcome Woodbridge, 14-7, and keep alive its hopes for the postseason.

Woodbridge (6-3, 3-3) saw its hopes virtually disappear. To get an at-large berth in Southern Section Division IV--in which three Sea View League teams reached the semifinals last year--the Warriors must beat Tustin (3-6, 1-5) next week and hope for Saddleback (2-7, 1-5) to upset Corona del Mar (6-3, 4-2).

“Unless the Southern Section makes a crazy decision, that should put us in,” Newport Coach Jeff Brinkley said.

Three teams qualify automatically for the playoffs, and it is presumed the one at-large berth in the 16-team field will come from the Sea View. Newport (7-2, 4-2) plays at Santa Margarita (7-2, 4-2) next week.

Newport’s march has not been easy. This was the third time they have won after trailing in the fourth quarter, and Brinkley said: “We don’t do a lot of things easy, but these kids find a way to win.”

The second half took each team on team through the emotional spectrum. After a defensive struggle in the first half--Newport Harbor gained 84 yards, Woodbridge, 78--the Warriors scored on their first possession, driving 57 yards on seven plays. The key moment was on fourth and six from the 37, when Gibson elected to try a field goal instead of his team’s eighth consecutive punt. Nathan Bennett wasn’t even close on his 53-yard attempt, but he was roughed on the play. Two plays later, Theo Wakefield scored from 23 yards. Bennett’s extra point made it 7-0.

Newport Harbor, unable to get a first down in eight of its first nine series, strung together an 80-yard drive behind Ryan Smith’s passing. Smith, two for eight with an interception in the first half, passed for 71 yards on the drive and Tift scored from the two with 10:07 left. Tift added the extra point.

Three consecutive plays decided the outcome midway in the fourth. Tift’s 21-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Justin Dufour, setting off Woodbridge pandemonium, but then Bill Atkinson fumbled a handoff, and Newport’s Matt Burns recovered at the eight.

On the next play, Tift (31 carries, 102 yards) was stacked up at the line, bounced off and raced to his left into the end zone untouched.

Smith, who completed his last five passes and finished seven of 14 for 126 yards, was grateful.

“That,” he said, “was scary.”

SEA VIEW

League Overall School W L T W L T Irvine 6 0 0 8 1 0 Corona del Mar 4 2 0 6 3 0 Newport Harbor 4 2 0 7 2 0 Santa Margarita 4 2 0 7 2 0 Woodbridge 3 3 0 6 3 0 Saddleback 1 5 0 2 7 0 Tustin 1 5 0 3 6 0 University 1 5 0 1 8 0

WEEK 9

Thursday’s results Corona del Mar 38, University 9

Friday’s results Irvine 35, Saddleback 21 Santa Margarita 21, Tustin 16

Saturday’s results Newport Harbor 14, Woodbridge 7

WEEK 10

Friday, Nov. 12 Newport Harbor vs. Santa Margarita, Saddleback College Saddleback vs. Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor HS University at Irvine HS Woodbridge at Tustin