Sailors claim Sea View League crown

Newport Harbor High’s freshman football team reigns as Sea View

League champion following a 12-0 victory at Foothill last Thursday.

Combined with a 36-8 win over Woodbridge the previous week, the

Sailors finish 9-1, 5-0 in league.

Thursday’s championship victory was the third shutout of the

season for Coach Joe Urban’s team, which was blessed with talent and

size.

“I’m truly speechless,” said Urban in the aftermath of the title

game. “You played with great hearts.”

Ricky Sepulveda ignited the go-ahead touchdown drive with a

42-yard punt return and Ryan Rippon cashed it in with a 15-yard

touchdown run.

The Sailors iced it in the last minute with a touchdown return of

an interception by linebacker Delano McKenzie.

Foothill had attempted to pass from its own 5-yard line after

Carson Hedrick’s punt rolled dead at that point with 1:20 left.

McKenzie stepped in front of a slant pattern and it was over

quickly.

Newport’s defense held Foothill to 44 yards on 22 carries and just

3 for 12 in the air.

Tom Jackson also had an interception for Newport.

Quarterback Michael Cantrell was 6 for 11 for 61 yards with

Sepulveda the main target (3 for 43 yards).

Among many standout defensive players were tackles Charles Schultz

and Ryan Uhl, along with linebackers McKenzie and Billy Brown.

In the easy victory over Woodbridge, the Sailors dominated behind

the running of Rippon (11 for 91 yards and 1 TD), McKenzie (6 carries

for 44 yards and 2 TDs), Sepulveda (4 carries for 27 yards), Travis

Duffield (3 carries for 8 yards and a TD) and Jack Tracy (1 carry for

5 yards).

Cantwell, who ran for 12 yards on 3 carries, completed 6 of 10 for

81 yards and a 12-yard touchdown pass to Rippon, as well as a

two-point conversion to Coder.

Rippon caught 3 passes for 42 yards, Coder caught two passes for

27 yards, and Sepulveda caught one pass for 12 yards.

Sepulveda and Jackson each had an interception, McKenzie blocked a

punt for a two-point safety and Hedrick kicked two PATs in a

thoroughly dominating victory.