Freshman Football: Tars run over CdM

Steve Virgen

NEWPORT BEACH - The Newport Harbor High freshman football team

didn’t have to complete a pass to beat rival Corona del Mar Thursday

afternoon.

Instead, the Tars racked up 269 rushing yards and five touchdowns --

including Matt Encinias’ 123 yards -- for a 39-0 victory.

Harbor’s defense held CdM to just five yards rushing and 81 total

yards (59 came in one play in the fourth quarter). The defense produced

its first shutout of the season.

“What I was pleased about today is that we really ran the ball well,”

Newport Harbor Coach Joe Urban said. “That was easily our best

performance of the season.”

Newport Harbor scored on its first four possessions of the game. The

Tars began the game with good field position as they started from

midfield after CdM attempted an onside kick. Harbor’s Daniel Packham

caught the short kickoff and the running game took over immediately.

In just four plays the Tars got their first touchdown when Sam Matlin

ran in his first of three scores, the first from 12 yards out.

CdM went three-and-out and Encinias returned the punt 32 yards. Two

plays later he dazzled the crowd again, blasting off right tackle,

bouncing off CdM defenders, as he broke four tackles for a 39-yard

touchdown run.

“Just make it home,” Encinias said of his thoughts while running for

his second TD of the day. “I’m a warrior. I’m not going to go down. I

battle my way through,” said Encinias.

He also said that he owed his performance to the offensive line.

Encinias also scored on special teams. He was the kicker for the point

after attempts. And he had a punt return for 66 yards when CdM had to

punt because of another three-and-out on its second possession of the

game.

“They have a plethora of talent,” CdM Coach Gary Almquist said. “They

outhit us. They got outside in the running game and they broke tackles.”

In the second half, Karo Maksergian and Chase Kelly ran the ball to

use up the clock.

CdM almost scored in the fourth quarter when Sea King receiver Zackary

Sagay jumped over defensive backs to snag a 20-yard pass, then running 39

yards for the 59-yard pass play from Tyler Wilson.

Wilson, who sat out most of the first half with an inured wrist, went

to Sagay again on the next play, but Tyler Deck intercepted to preserve

the shutout.

The Tars improved to 2-1 on the season. The Sea Kings fell to 0-3.