Newport frosh fall short

Second half rally isn’t enough for Sailors’ freshman football team in Sea View League title tiltLAGUNA HILLS -- The Newport Harbor freshman football team came close, but was unable to win their final Sea View League championship before moving to the Sunset League.

The Sailors lost Wednesday, 24-15, in the league championship at Laguna Hills High. The Tars outscored Laguna Hills in the second half, but could not overcome a 12-0 first half deficit.

The Hawks used their play-action passing to keep the Sailors off balance. Laguna Hills quarterback Matt Giovinazzo completed four passes of more than 20 yards against the Newport Harbor defense.

“We got the big plays,” Laguna Hills Coach Pete Terschuk said. “Our quarterback came through with the big passes when needed.”

Newport was without the services of starting tailback Michael Helfrich, who was injured. Danny Miller picked up for Helfrich, rushing for 123 yards on 25 carries.

“Danny really stepped up for us in the ground game,” Newport Harbor Coach Joe Urban said.

Laguna Hills scored the first two touchdowns of the game on runs of three and four yards by Giovinazzo.

The key point of the game came when Newport Harbor was unable to score late in the second quarter. The Sailors had marched from their 20 to the Hawks’ one-yard line. Two offsides penalties and an incomplete pass on fourth down squelched the drive, turning possession over to Laguna Hills.

The Sailors attempted to rally, scoring on their first play of the second half. A 12-yard punt return gave the Tars great field position at the Hawks’ 38. A 14-yard pass from Andrew McDonald to Brandon Kula gave Newport the ball at the five-yard line. On the next play, Miller ran the ball in to make the score, 12-7.

The Hawks scored in the fourth quarter when Giovinazzo scored on a quarterback sneak to make the score, 18-7.

Nick Svendsen took the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the Hawks’ 40-yard line. The Sailors cashed in when McDonald threw the ball downfield, and found Kula near the left sideline. The tight end dragged a Hawks defender with him for a 21-yard touchdown.

Laguna Hills responded with a touchdown, courtesy of a 29-yard scoring pass from Giovinazzo to Robert Refsnyder.

The Sailors were unable to score on their last possession, and were left to watch as Laguna Hills (8-2) celebrated its first Sea View League freshman football title.

Newport Harbor finished its season 8-2, but came away from the game with many positives.

“As a team we played hard, we just gave up too many big plays,” said Urban. “I felt that after our score in the third quarter, we took momentum. We just ran out of clock [to rally].”

LAGUNA HILLS 24, NEWPORT HARBOR 15

SCORE BY QUARTERS