Stewart paces Tars, 27-10

Barry Faulkner

MISSION VIEJO - After losing two fumbles his first six carries in

Friday’s 27-10 Sea View League victory over host Laguna Hills, Newport

Harbor High’s Andre Stewart appeared headed for the bench.

Instead, the senior tailback danced, darted, dashed and dazzled his way

to the most prolific single-game rushing performance in the Sailors’

storied 69-season football history.

Stewart, whom Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley confidently sent back onto the

field immediately after the Hawks turned his second lost fumble into a

first-quarter field goal, finished his 38-carry, 310-yard record-breaking

performance in the end zone. It was about as far away from Brinkley’s dog

house as a player could get.

“He’s our guy and he has to feel like you have confidence in him,” said

Brinkley, whose confidence enabled the Sailors (6-0-1, 2-0 in league) to

claim sole possession of the Sea View lead with just two league games

remaining.

Stewart’s heroics were hardly a solo act, as fullback Travis Trimble,

tackles Blair Jones and Robert Cole, guards Steve Wukawitz and Nick

Haddy, center Luis Cruz, tight end Nick Langsdorf, as well as a handful

of wideouts, hammered away at the Hawks’ defense with relentless

commitment.

The smashmouth assault overpowered the scrappy hosts (4-3, 1-1), who

marched 67 yards with the second-half kickoff to claim a 10-7 lead with

just more than 19 minutes remaining.

Ajay Allen’s 1-yard plunge capped the 12-play drive, sustained by a

third-down pass interference penalty, to stun the Sailors, who committed

four first-half turnovers.

Despite earning a 287-77 lead in total offense at Mission Viejo High, the

Sailors held a precarious 7-3 cushion at intermission.

“We played a pretty good first half,” Brinkley said. “But the turnovers

helped Laguna Hills hang in there and get some confidence. It was just

what they did last week (a 21-15 league-opening upset of defending CIF

Southern Section Division VI champion Woodbridge).

Stewart had 146 yards through two quarters, but the best was yet to come.

“At halftime, everybody recommitted to each other to find a way to win,”

Brinkley said.

But the former Pacific Coast League powerhouse did some halftime

hollering of its own and appeared able to pull off its second straight

Sea View stunner midway through the third quarter, then forced a punt

after five plays of the ensuing possession.

Harbor senior Brad Craig, however, recovered a muffed punt reception at

the Hawks’ 18 and the Tars used just three plays to cash in.

Junior quarterback Chris Manderino, who threw for a pair of scores and

ran for another, hit senior receiver Billy Clayton on a 13-yard slant for

the touchdown. Chris Bargas’ conversion kick put the visitors ahead for

good, 14-10, with 2:58 left in the third.

The hosts, however, reclaimed momentum by overcoming a 16-yard holding

penalty with a first down at the Harbor 48. But the Hawks fumbled on the

next play and Newport end Garrett Troncale recovered at his own 46.

A deflated Hawks defense took the field and the Sailors showed no mercy.

Stewart, whose previous single-game best was 196 yards Oct. 7 against

Magnolia, carried seven straight times off left tackle, to bring up

fourth-and-three at the Laguna Hills 5.

Manderino, who had an apparent 11-yard touchdown scramble called back in

the second quarter, faked to Stewart on the left side and sidestepped a

defender en route to the end zone on a bootleg around the right side.

After the Hawks went three-and-out, Stewart carried eight of nine plays

on an 80-yard touchdown drive to ice it, diving in over left tackle from

2 yards out with 2:47 left.

“Our offensive line ... that last drive was beautiful,” said Brinkley,

who was also quick to add praise to Trimble for his lead blocking.

“That’s two weeks in a row we needed a big drive to end the game and we

got it.”

Laguna Hills quarterback Brandon Champlin completed just 11 of 25 for 128 yards. He was sacked four times, once each by Andy Kalanz, Troncale,

Langsdorf and Brad Rothwell.

Justin Jacobs added an interception and Clayton finished with three

catches for 87 yards.