Warriors Keep Sailors in Slump
It was only two weeks ago that Newport Harbor was unbeaten and ranked fifth in the county with an offense that scored more points than some basketball teams.
But the Sailors have run aground after losing their second consecutive Sea View League contest, this time to Woodbridge, 10-7, before an estimated 5,000 at Irvine High Friday.
Certainly there is no shame in losing to Woodbridge, which is unbeaten (6-0-1, 1-0-1) and ranked fourth in the county. But it’s the way eighth-ranked Newport Harbor (5-2, 0-2) is losing. After averaging more than 50 points a game in their five victories, the Sailors have scored 25 points in their two defeats.
They were lucky to score at all Friday, losing the ball five times on two interceptions and three fumbles. Their only touchdown came with 5 minutes 16 seconds to play, when receiver Billy Clayton pulled down a 10-yard scoring pass from quarterback Steve Gorman.
“You just can’t turn the ball over against the good teams and expect to win,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said.
The Warriors scored early, getting 10 first-quarter points on a 46-yard field goal from Steve Terwiski and a 49-yard touchdown run by Brandon Runk.
“We could have had a 24-0 lead in the first half if we had done some other things right, but instead we kept them in the game,” Woodbridge Coach Rick Gibson said. “But in a league this good, winning games like this is necessary. It’s an ugly win, but we’ll take it.”
Newport Harbor came into the game with the bad taste left by their upset loss to city rival Corona del Mar last week. “We’ve lost like six games in the last three years,” Brinkley said. “When it happens, they can get real low. The coaches kept telling them in practice to come out tonight and have some fun.”
Instead, Newport Harbor continued to struggle in the first half, although Woodbridge did not take full advantage.
A fumbled punt by the Sailors’ Lamar Lee at the Newport Harbor 37-yard line helped set up Woodbridge’s only touchdown. A holding penalty moved the ball back to the 49, but Runk threaded through the Sailors’ defense on the next play to score.
Newport Harbor’s problems continued into the second quarter. Gorman and Clayton hooked up for a 30-yard pass play, but Clayton fumbled the ball to Woodbridge’s Shane Harris, who returned it 16 yards.
And when the Sailors managed their best drive, going from the Warriors’ 33 to the one-yard line, they still couldn’t crack the end zone in four tries. On fourth down Andre Stewart lost the Sailors’ third fumble of the half, with Woodbridge recovering at the four.