Sailors self-destruct, 19-10

NEWPORT BEACH — A Dana Hills High football team that started 11 sophomores added another building block Friday to what appears to be a solid foundation for a bright future.

The Dolphins’ 19-10, come-from-behind nonleague victory also appeared to leave host Newport Harbor shaken, wondering when or if it could climb out of the rubble of a once-promising campaign the Sailors had helped deconstruct in two straight losses.

“It’s the same thing we’ve been talking about the last two weeks,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said of the Sailors’ costly concoction of turnovers and allowing big plays.

The Sailors threw three interceptions, which led to 10 points, and atypically leaked on defense as Dana Hills senior tailback Matt Garcia sprinted 86 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

Garcia’s pivotal play, with 9:12 left in the game, came on the first snap after the Dolphins (2-3) stopped the Sailors (2-2) on fourth down deep in Dana Hills territory.

“You can’t win games doing those things,” said Brinkley, who saw his team commit six turnovers and surrender an 80-yard touchdown pass in a 14-6 loss to Back Bay rival Corona del Mar on Sept. 21.

Newport Harbor scored its lone touchdown by cashing in a Brice Stillman interception midway through the second quarter.

But the Sailors were on the wrong end of the three aforementioned interceptions, all of which sailed into the awaiting arms of sophomore middle linebacker Eric Ehlow on throws late and down the middle.

Ehlow, who said he had never intercepted a pass before Friday’s game, saw three Sailor aerials spin directly to him as he dropped in zone coverage. There did not appear to be a Newport Harbor receiver near him as he gathered in the interceptions at the Sailors’ 34-yard line, the Tars’ 36 and his own three. The final pick halted the Sailors’ comeback attempt with 1:31 left, after which the Dolphins, who stunned 2005 CIF Southern Section Division I champion Loyola last week, run out the clock.

“We misread the thing,” Brinkley said of the ill-fated passes that ended Newport Harbor possessions.

Ironically, it was the passing game that appeared to spark the Sailors in the final quarter.

Kevin Williams, alternating at quarterback with fellow senior Stephen Peterson, took over in the fourth quarter, per Brinkley’s preconceived plan, and after two runs, threw back-to-back completions. The well-placed passes to J.B. Green and Stillman netted 57 yards and put the Tars at the Dana Hills 31.

The drive stalled, however and Stillman was stopped after a three-yard reception on fourth-and-seven.

The Dolphins were penalized for a personal foul for driving Stillman out of bounds, but since it was a dead-ball foul, it was ruled post-possession and they took over at their own 14 to set the stage for Garcia.

Garcia finished with 166 rushing yards on 21 carries, while sophomore quarterback Sean Schroeder threw for 98 yards, completing nine of 16.

Schroeder’s one-yard TD connection with Jaime Beilby capped a three-play mini-drive that followed Ehlow’s first interception. Along with Riley St. Clair’s conversion kick, it erased the Sailors’ 10-3 halftime lead with 9:56 left in the third quarter.

Nick Frazier opened the scoring with a 24-yard field goal to cap a 12-play procession that included two crucial third-down conversions.

Stillman intercepted on the first play after the ensuing kickoff and returned it to the Dolphins’ 15.

Five plays later, Williams scored on a one-yard sneak and the PAT put the hosts up, 10-0.

St. Clair booted a 19-yard field goal after the Sailors defense stuffed three straight runs after the visitors had first-and-goal at the two.

But any carryover momentum from the Newport Harbor defensive stand was negated on the second play after halftime, when Ehlow made his first interception.

“They all came right to me,” Ehlow said. Stillman finished with eight receptions for 111 yards, while Williams, who played in the second and fourth quarters, completed 11 of 16 for 134 yards.

Ben Frazier had 74 yards on 16 rushing attempts, after averaging 117 yards rushing the first three games.

Dana Hills had four sacks, double the noseguard Charles Vickery and tackle Mike Calabrese helped the Sailors post.