Two-minute drill

For the second home game in a row, the Newport Harbor High football

team wore silver pants with blue jerseys. The Sailors have

traditionally worn blue pants and blue jerseys at Davidson field.

Coach Jeff Brinkley said we wanted to do something special for the

homecoming game against Laguna Hills Nov. 5

“I had gotten [the silver pants] before the season started,” he

said. “The team wore silver pants in the early ‘80s before I got here

[in 1986]. I changed the uniform to all blue and I thought it would

nice to change it up for homecoming.”

* It could be the ultimate win-lose proposition. The Sage Hill

School defense stopped Linfield Christian during a goal-line stand on

the 1-yard line midway through the first quarter.

After the turnover on downs, the Lightning were penalized on

back-to-back plays to push them as close to the goal line as

possible. Still, Sage Hill was able to pick up a first down, but the

poor field position came back to haunt them. A punt gave Linfield

Christian the ball on the Sage Hill 30, and the Lions scored on the

subsequent first play from scrimmage.

* El Dorado High Coach Jeff Bailey said before the Newport Harbor

game whichever team was most successful on the ground would

ultimately be the victor on the scoreboard.

“We need to establish the run and control the clock,” Bailey said.

“Hopefully this will be a grinder of a game. Whoever wins the time of

possession will win this game.”

El Dorado rushed for 212 yards on 35 caries, an average of 6.1

yards per attempt.

Newport Harbor gained 236 rushing yards on 38 carries, a clip of

6.2 per run.

The Golden Hawks held onto the ball for 22:18. The Sailors had

possession for 25:42.

Newport Harbor won, 35-10, and advance to the quarterfinals

Friday.