Newport Harbor Defense Stifles El Dorado

After five minutes of Friday night’s 22-0 Southern Section Division VI first-round playoff victory over visiting El Dorado, the Newport Harbor side of the 50-yard line became a Golden Hawk-free zone.

The Sailor defense, Orange County’s stingiest after giving up a county-low 83 points in the regular season, did not allow El Dorado to cross midfield after the Golden Hawks pushed to the Sailor 25 before being driven back and forced to punt.

El Dorado managed only 69 yards of total offense and surrendered nine sacks. It was Newport Harbor’s third shutout in the last four games and propels the No. 2-seeded Sailors (10-0-1) into Friday’s second round against Villa Park.

“Our defense sticks together and gets the job done,” said Newport junior end Garrett Troncale, who finished with a pair of sacks.

Senior Brad Rothwell had three sacks and middle linebacker Alan Saenz had two.

“We played good defense and we finally moved the ball a little better in the second half,” Newport Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “Andre [Stewart, who scored on a 47-yard run in the second quarter] stuck it in the end zone and we were looking for one more score to get over the hump.”

Fittingly, it was the defense which pushed the Tars over. Linebacker Chris Manderino exploded beat a horde of tacklers to tailback Nick Zehner about two yards deep in his own end zone to push the lead to 9-0.