Big plays key Newport win

It didn’t take Newport Harbor High’s freshman football team to

score when it began drives against Aliso Niguel in a Sea View League

opener Oct. 17 at Newport Harbor.

The Sailors struck quickly against the Wolverines, to the tune of

30-12, improving to 5-1, 1-0 in the Sea View League.

Newport scored on its second play from scrimmage when Delano

McKenzie ran 75 yards run for a touchdown aided by the blocking of

center Alex Flores, guard Billy Munce, fullback Jack Tracy and James

Coder.

Coder also hit paydirt with an 80-yard punt return in the second

quarter to give Newport a 16-6 lead.

Newport’s defense played strong throughout, receiving strong play

from middle linebacker Billy Brown. Brown led a defense that forced

Aliso to punt from its own 25-yard line.

Coder finished the day with two kickoff returns for 115 yards and

one TD and also caught two balls for 20 yards, one TD and one

two-point conversion, while McKenzie had 12 carries for 128 yards and

one TD.

Ryan Rippon ran nine times for 36 yards and one two-point

conversion and Ricky Sepulveda carried three times for 39 yards and

one TD, one a 31-yard score.

Quarterback Michael Cantwell rushed once for 2 yards and ran in a

two-point conversion while completing three of five passes for 25

yards, one TD and a two-point conversion

Sepulveda returned two punts for 42 yards and. McKenzie caught one

pass for 5 yards.