Baker’s 352 All-Purpose Yards Give Sailors Edge

As long as Newport Harbor’s Brett Baker touched the ball against Irvine Friday night, things went well for the Sailors.

Baker had 352 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in a 28-17 victory that put the host Sailors (7-2, 2-2) in good position to earn the Sea View League’s third-place berth to the Southern Section Division V playoffs.

“I don’t know if I can take another game like this,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said.

Baker, on the other hand, would love another like it.

The senior running back rushed for 208 yards and a touchdown in 25 carries. He also had first-half punt returns of 70 and 75 yards, both for touchdowns.

“Our coaches always stress special-team yardage,” Baker said. “Tonight, it won the game.”

Baker had a 69-yard scoring run on the second play of the game, then had his first scoring punt return two minutes later to put the Sailors on top, 14-0.

Irvine (3-6, 1-3) responded with a 45-yard field goal by Andrew Howard and touchdown runs of two and 16 yards by Al Williams to take a 17-14 lead early in the second quarter.

But Williams, who ran for 127 yards in the first half, was limited to 35 second-half yards.

The Sailors scored on Baker’s 75-yard punt return and quarterback Steve Gorman’s only completion on the night--a 20-yard pass to Oscar Garcia.

Irvine advanced as far as Newport Harbor’s one-yard line in the fourth quarter before fumbling.