Tars dominate league opener

Newport Harbor football for Sat.Daniel, Rippon lead charge as Newport Harbor shrugs off two straight losses and handles Woodbridge.NEWPORT BEACH -- The Newport Harbor High football program is not accustomed to making a habit of going down in defeat, so after two consecutive losses, the team was eager to mend its ways.

The Sailors got back on the winning track with a 41-14 victory over Woodbridge in the Sea View League opener for both teams Friday night at Newport Harbor High.

The Sailors got it done with the big play in the first half, then opened the second half with two consecutive scoring drives to put the game away.

Junior Jarrett Daniel was the big-play man for the Sailors. Daniel opened the night’s scoring when he caught a Woodbridge punt in the middle of the field, cut left and rambled 51 yards for a touchdown.

After a 41-yard touchdown run by Ryan Rippon in the second quarter, Daniel scored on a 59-yard pass by Tom Jackson down the right sideline.

The Sailors went into halftime leading, 20-0.

“My team was making big plays in the first half,” Rippon said. “I felt like I came out a little slow. Then at halftime I decided to heck with trying to make all these fancy moves and started hitting the holes.”

On Newport’s first possession of the third quarter, Rippon ripped off runs of 19 and 33 yards, setting up Jackson’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Jack Tracy, who saw limited playing time on offense because of a sore ankle.

The Sailors stopped Woodbridge on its next drive -- a Delano McKenzie sack foiled the Warrior offense.

Newport put the game away for good on its next drive. Working with a short field after a short Woodbridge punt, the Sailors went 34 yards on seven plays, highlighted by Jackson’s 12-yard run for a first down on fourth-and-7 and capped off by Jason Ruiz’s 2-yard plunge into the end zone behind Tracy’s key block.

The Sailors led 34-0 with 5:08 left in the third quarter.

“We weren’t quite as emotional tonight as we were last week, when we had a very emotional overtime game [against Mira Costa],” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “I was looking for one more big score to give us a cushion, so at halftime I said we needed a great first drive. I thought that was our most efficient drive.”

The Sailors, who beat the Warriors for the sixth straight year, were relieved to get a victory, especially in their league opener. Newport was 3-6-1 in league openers the last 10 years coming into the game, including a tie in last year’s opener, which did not prevent them from capturing the league title.

“It’s a big win. I told the kids we have to get out of the shoot, 1-0,” Brinkley said. “If we don’t, we’re fighting up hill the rest of the season.”

Rippon, with Tracy nursing a sore ankle, carried most of the load on the ground with 13 carries and game-high 145 yards.

“Coming off two losses, we needed to get this league win under our belts,” Rippon said. “We know we have tough opponents all the way through the Sea View League.”

Rippon said one big reason for the lopsided victory was J.D. “J.D. -- Jarrett Daniel, he’s the man,” Rippon said.

Daniel played on the punt return unit for the first time this season, and the move paid off immediately for the Sailors.

“He’s played well for us and he’s only a junior,” Brinkley said. “He’s been one of our surprises. He gives us another offensive weapon.”

McKenzie led the defensive effort with two sacks. Newport held Woodbridge to 57 yards rushing in the first half.

Newport will host Foothill next Friday.

Newport Harbor 41, Woodbridge 14 SCORE BY QUARTERS