Late Score Caps Sailor Comeback : Division V football: Touchdown pass with less than three minutes left in the game gives Newport Harbor a 20-15 victory over Servite.

With one flick of quarterback John Giordani’s wrist, Newport Harbor proved again it was a team of destiny.

Giordani’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Mike Freeman with 2 minutes 37 seconds left in the game helped the Sailors to a 20-15 victory over Servite in the Southern Section Division V championship football game Friday at Orange Coast College.

The overflow crowd of 8,000 then watched Newport Harbor’s defense seal the victory with a quarterback sack that produced a fumble. Jack Hogan recovered for the Sailors at the Servite 33 with 1:30 remaining.

Three plays later, the celebration began.

The championship was the first for top-seeded Newport Harbor (14-0) in its 64-year football history. The Sailors lost to Bonita in the 1942 Lower Division final, 39-6, and lost to Irvine in the 1992 Division IV final, 30-8. But they wouldn’t be denied this time.

“This is for them, the kids and the community,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “It was time for our community to have a (Southern Section) title.”

That title appeared to be in jeopardy midway through the fourth quarter.

Servite trailed, 14-9, but moved 42 yards in six plays to the Newport Harbor one. Servite’s David Bedard, who rushed for 120 yards in 25 carries, scored on a one-yard run to give Servite a 15-14 lead with 4:08 remaining.

After David Martin’s pass for a two-point conversion was intercepted by Newport Harbor’s Dan Eadie, the Sailors had one last chance.

“We were telling each other that we’re this close to it all,” said Newport Harbor guard Bill Johns.

The Sailors started the drive from their 23 and Giordani, who completed seven of 13 passes for 160 yards, began the drive by scrambling. But Giordani pulled up and tossed a 20-yard pass to Danny Pulido, who had five catches for 79 yards.

Two carries by Brian Johnson, who had 134 yards rushing in 19 carries, moved the ball to the 38 to set up Freeman’s game-winning catch, which culminated a four-play, 77-yard drive that took only 1:26.

“They have been winning games with big plays all season,” Servite Coach Larry Toner said. “They won it with big plays tonight.”

Servite dominated the second half, holding the Sailors to two first downs until the final drive.

“We had our strength out there. I had every reason to believe we could stop them,” Toner said. “They made a great play and that was that.”

Newport Harbor’s defense also made big plays.

Servite, which rushed for 244 yards, moved 54 yards in 13 plays to the Newport Harbor 19 on its first drive of the second half. But an interception by Newport Harbor’s Dan McDonough stopped the drive with 1:05 remaining in the third quarter.

The Friars (11-3) seemed to move the ball easily on the ground. Frank Patti rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown in 13 carries and Marvin Smith added 62 yards in 11 carries.

But Newport Harbor limited Servite to 11 yards passing. Martin, who was sacked twice, was able to complete only one of four passes. Last week, he attempted only six passes and had two intercepted in a 34-19 victory over El Toro.

Giordani completed three passes to Pulido on Newport Harbor’s first drive of the game to help set up a 14-yard touchdown run by Johnson. Johnson’s touchdown gave Newport Harbor a 7-6 lead, countering 15-yard touchdown run by Patti on the Friars’ opening drive.

Giordani’s 43-yard completion to Jon Benzinger highlighted a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Giordani capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run with 2:11 remaining in the second quarter to make it 14-9, Newport Harbor.

“Many people think we’re just another smash-mouth football team,” Brinkley said.

Giordani and the Sailors showed they weren’t, and now they have the trophy and an unbeaten season to prove it.