Giordani Uses Changeup to Pass Servite Defense

Newport Harbor is the Division V champion because it was able to figure out what Western, Villa Park and El Toro could not: how to successfully pass on the Servite defense.

Quarterback John Giordani completed seven of 13 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown--the score that clinched Newport Harbor’s 20-15 victory Friday night at Orange Coast College.

Those numbers may not seem big, but consider: opposing passers were averaging only 107 yards against Servite, and Giordani was the Friars’ first playoff opponent to complete more than half of his attempts, primarily because his offensive line allowed only one sack.

Giordani and the Sailors were able to recognize and take advantage of Servite’s man-to-man coverages.

Coach Jeff Brinkley said before the game that when the Sailors saw the Friars in a blitzing formation, “we’re going to throw and throw long.” The biggest moment came in the fourth quarter when Giordani found Mike Freeman down the left sideline for a 38-yard touchdown pass that provided the winning margin.

“The play was supposed to be a run,” Giordani said. “But as soon as I saw Freeman had one man on him I gave him ‘the look’ and changed the play.”

The audible--a shout of “67” followed by a touch of Giordani’s helmet--signaled Freeman to take off.

Moments later, despite getting a shove that momentarily knocked him out of bounds (he was able to come back inbounds legally), he gathered in the biggest pass in Newport Harbor history at about the five-yard line and made it into the end zone.

“I just saw this little white circle and big brown middle coming out of the sky,” the senior tight end said. “Somehow I got by the defense and got in.

“All night I had been a decoy, running routes and blocking. But all of a sudden I got ‘the look’ from John.”

And the pass reception they are still celebrating at Newport Harbor today.

“I hope this sinks in soon,” Freeman said. “This is the most incredible feeling I’ve ever had in my life.”