Sailors earn a passing grade

Normally a running team, Newport Harbor takes to the air in the second half, leading to three scores and the Division VI title.COSTA MESA -- As transformations go, this one was something like going from Clark Kent to Superman.

Essentially grounded in the first half, Newport Harbor’s passing game took off after halftime. With it went the Sailors offense and their chances for a CIF Southern Section Division VI championship.

And as important as the Tars’ defense was, holding off Valencia, the offense -- and the passing game in particular -- made the victory possible.

“It was a great boost,” wide receiver James Coder said. “It was something we needed to be able to do.”

Quarterback Tom Jackson was nearly unstoppable in the second half, completing 7 of 9 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. All four of Coder’s receptions -- including a pair of drive-extending grabs -- came after halftime.

It was a marked difference from the first half, when the Sailors struggled to move the ball. Jackson completed just three of his 10 passing attempts in the first half, for a mere 26 yards. That allowed Valencia to key on tailback Ryan Rippon, holding him to 43 yards in the first half.

“I came out real jumpy,” Jackson said. “I was way too high strung. At halftime, I just told myself I couldn’t play so tight.”

It also helped that Coach Jeff Brinkley opened up the passing game a little, calling more of Jackson’s preferred rollouts and bootlegs. The move allowed the senior to take advantage of his mobility, and open up his field of vision.

“We just told him to settle down and relax a little,” Brinkley said. “He was a little pumped up and overthrowing a bit [in the first half].

“He settled in and did a great job.”

The breakthrough play was on the Sailors’ third play from scrimmage in the third quarter. On third-and-seven, Jackson lofted a deep pass to Coder on the right side and the senior pulled the ball in between two defenders for a 46-yard gain.

It was the longest play from scrimmage for Newport Harbor up to that point, and forced Valencia to adjust its defense away from the run.

Jackson and Coder connected again three plays later on third-and-10 for a 12-yard pickup to the Valencia 9, and Jackson scored on the next play to tie the score at 14-14.

The Newport Harbor defense forced the Tigers into a three-and-out, putting the ball back into the offense’s hands. This time, the Sailors drove 52 yards in seven plays, capped by Jackson’ 21-yard pass to Jarrett Daniel for the go-ahead score.

“The passing just came along, once the defense picked up,” Daniel said. “Everything fell into place.”

There was time for two more big pass plays for the Sailors on their next drive.

Jackson and Daniel connected on a 45-yard reception, with Daniel wrestling the ball away from Valencia cornerback Jeremiah Rodriguez. And on fourth-and-nine at the Valencia 16, Jackson -- you guessed it -- rolled out to his left and hit Coder for 12 yards, with Coder tiptoeing to stay inbounds.

Delano McKenzie was the final recipient of a rollout pass from Jackson, collecting a two-yard reception in the end zone for a 28-14 lead.

With the lead in hand, thanks in part to the passing game, the Sailors could rely on the things that brought them to the championship game -- the ground game and their punishing defense.