Easy Sailing for Newport Harbor, Manderino at Cathedral City

Chris Manderino rushed for 133 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Newport Harbor to a 35-24 victory over Cathedral City Friday night at Cathedral City.

The Sailors (7-2), No. 6 in the Southern Section Division VI rankings, scored 21 consecutive points, turning a 7-6 lead to a 28-6 advantage.

Newport Harbor quarterback Morgan Craig threw for 174 yards and a touchdown, completing 15 of 25 passes to help balance Manderino’s running.

Cathedral City quarterback Blake Moorman completed 11 of 18 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Cathedral City (6-3) made the score more reasonable with two touchdowns in the last 12 seconds of the game.

Newport Harbor marched 65 yards in only five plays in its first possession, capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Manderino.

Cathedral City cut the lead to 7-6 when Moorman connected with Jeff Lambert on a 32-yard touchdown pass three minutes into the second quarter.

With 54 seconds left in the half, Newport Harbor’s Alan Saenz knocked the ball loose from a Lion running back and David Sprenger recovered on Cathedral City’s 10-yard line. Two plays later, Craig hooked up with Mitch Gray on a four-yard touchdown pass, and Newport Harbor pulled away from there.