Sailors bounce Dolphins

Barry Faulkner

In a game that noticeably dragged on, the Newport Harbor High

football team continued to make steady progress Thursday night,

conquering visiting Dana Hills, 36-7, in a nonleague contest before

2,800.

The Sailors (3-1), ranked No. 3 in CIF Southern Section Division

VI, scored on three of their first four possessions, scored two

third-quarter touchdowns in a 15-second span, then, with its

substitutes on the field, added a safety to claim its third straight

win.

Senior tailback Dartangan Johnson led a methodically effective

ground game with 121 rushing yards and two TDs on 17 carries, while

senior quarterback Michael McDonald completed 12 of 17 for 201 yards and three TDs, without an interception.

McDonald was so sharp, three of his incompletions were dropped by

receivers. His scoring tosses went for 71, 27 and 18 yards, to three

different receivers, and he also added a 30-yard hookup.

“(McDonald) threw the ball really well,” said Newport Harbor Coach

Jeff Brinkley, who also praised his running game, which produced 247

yards and an impressive 14 rushing first downs.

The Sailors amassed 21 first downs and their defense forced eight

punts.

Dana Hills (1-3), which came in with one offensive touchdown its

first three games, scored on a five-play mini-drive after Brett

Shirozono returned a punt 56 yards to the Harbor 16 in the second quarter.

Newport fumbled away the ensuing kickoff and had two conversion

kicks blocked to create something for Brinkley to bristle about.

“We played very well, except for our special teams, which is a

real area of concern,” Brinkley said. “We have been pretty good on

special teams, but, tonight, we fell apart.”

The defense, which shut out Corona del Mar last week, yielded just

81 yards of total offense. So dominant were the Sailors, Dana Hills

averaged just more than 90 seconds on its 14 possessions, only two of

which ate more than three minutes off the clock.

Backups Mike Temple and Sam Khalifian combined to sack Dolphin

reserve quarterback Nolan Borden in the end zone for a safety with

2:24 left in the game and the visitors saw their ball carrier tackled

behind the line 10 times, including four sacks.

Linebackers Matt Encinias, Fernando Castorena and Jimmy Sanchez,

as well as safety Warren Junowich and cornerback Ben Soza

(interception) were notable for Newport’s defense. Chase Brawner and

Shahan Mouradyan also shared a sack, as Dana Hills starting

quarterback Trevor Walls was harried all night.

Offensively, tackles A.J. Slater and Chris Badorek, guards Eric

Curtis and Nick Watkins, center Jack Shahen, tight ends Paul Toman

and Taylor Young, and fullback Rhett Hartsfield helped pave the way

on the ground.

And, when the Sailors went to the air, McDonald found plenty of

open receivers.

“We ran the ball well tonight and that helped with the pass,” said

senior wideout Mike Toole, who caught four passes for 70 yards,

including a 27-yard TD the first snap after defensive end Mac Posey

recovered a third-quarter Dolphin fumble.

McDonald also hooked up with sophomore Spencer Link on a 71-yard

scoring streak, which helped make it 21-0 with 10:36 left in the

first half.

Toman caught an 18-yard TD toss to open the scoring, then later

fielded McDonald’s two-point conversion pass that made it 14-0 with

27 seconds left in the first quarter.

Soza also caught three passes for 29 yards and Johnson (two

catches) rounded out the aerial assault.

Newport’s reserves saw plenty of action for the first time this

season as running backs Jose Munoz (25 yards on seven carries) and

Ricky Nott (21 yards on five carries) keyed a time-consuming 14-play

fourth-quarter drive that was marred by multiple penalties on both

teams.

Harbor was called for half of its 10 penalties after the starters

left the game.

Newport, which has now won 15 of its last 16 home games, 24 of its

last 26, will host Paramount Thursday for its final preleague

contest, before opening Sea View League play Oct. 18 against visiting

Aliso Niguel.