Sailors hand Aliso first loss

Rick Devereux

There was no mistaking what was on the line Thursday night in the Sea

View League football game between host Newport Harbor High and Aliso

Niguel at Davidson Field.

“This was the league championship [game],” lineman Saami Khalifian

said following the Sailors’ 21-7 victory over Aliso Niguel.

Newport Harbor (6-0-1, 1-0-1 in league) dominated the time of

possession, 32:03 to 15:57. The Wolverines (5-1, 1-1) ran three

offensive plays in the third quarter for a total of 1:19.

Newport put together a 6:34 drive to end the third quarter, but

came up with no points as Xavier Gardner intercepted a pass at the

1-yard line and returned it to the Aliso 17.

“[That drive] was very important for us to try to establish

momentum,” Coach Jeff Brinkley said.

The momentum was in the Sailors favor before the intermission,

thanks to a stingy defense and an opportunistic offense.

Drew Westling has been one of the top quarterbacks in the county

this season for the Wolverines, but Newport Harbor did not allow the

senior to throw the ball deep.

“We kept our rush going all night,” Newport defensive coordinator

Tony Ciarelli said. “Our DBs did a good job of keeping everything in

front of them and not letting people get behind them.”

Westling finished with 178 passing yards, mostly on quick screens

to wide receivers.

The Sailors jumped on the board in the first quarter on

quarterback Kasey Peters’ 6-yard bootleg to the left. The score was

set up by a 48-yard pass from Peters to Spencer Link.

Link gave Newport Harbor a 14-0 lead on a 44-yard reverse. Running

back Trevor Theriot took a pitch to the left and handed off to Link.

Link sprinted down the Sailor sideline, then cut across the field for

the touchdown with 1:11 left in the first half.

“We try to get the ball in [Link’s] hands,” Brinkley said. “He

exploded tonight.”

Link finished with 119 receiving yards and 55 rushing yards.

Despite the dominating third quarter, the Tars failed to put any

points on the board, and the Wolverines had a chance to cut into the

1-0 lead after the interception. Aliso Niguel drove to its own 46,

but was forced to punt.

Alex Orth rushed from the left side and blocked the punt and

returned the loose ball to the Wolverine 33. Three plays later,

Peters connected with Orth on a 30-yard touchdown pass to make it

21-0.

“I’m excited,” Khalifian said. “I want to play another game right

now.”