YOUTH SPORTS

FOOTBALL

Newport-Mesa

Jr. All-American

Junior Midget Division

Newport-Mesa Seahawks 13, Mission Viejo Cowboys 12: The Seahawks’ offense was led by running backs Keith Lakey, Drew Diller and Sam Barkley during their narrow win on Sept. 30. Quarterback Austin Rios had a very productive day, throwing the ball to Barkley, Matt Mello and Drew Diller.

The Hawks scored in the first half on a 90-yard drive, highlighted by two key completions from Rios to Diller and Barkley for 25 and 30 yards, respectively. Barkley scored on a five-yard run, giving Newport-Mesa a 6-0 halftime lead.

The Seahawks added to their lead in the second half when Rios connected with Mello for a 40-yard touchdown pass. The Seahawk defense then stiffened, holding off a late Cowboys rally.

Junior Pee Wee Division

Newport-Mesa Seahawks 38, Mission Viejo 0: The Seahawks (4-1) scored 32 points in the first half alone in a romp on Oct. 7. Kory Cablay started the scoring with a 28-yard touchdown. Taylor Parks kicked the two-point conversion. Chris Johnstone scored next on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Chase Forrest, Parks converting. Then Jeff Carlyle scored on a 16-yard run for a 24-0 first-quarter lead.

Levi Stillman rounded out the half with a 65-yard touchdown catch from Forrest, Parks adding another conversion for the 32-0 lead.

Taro Doone, Bronson Gilbert, Kenny Drinnon, Kurt Walde and Max Meisenheimer led the Seahawks offense with their impressive blocking in the trenches, with Colby Koste and Troy Reese also providing good run support with solid blocks.

Koste led the impressive defensive unit that pitched its fourth shutout of the season. Also contributing were Drinnon, Johnstone, Stillman, Carlyle, Cablay, Doone, Gilbert, Walde, Todd Jarvis, Cayman Carter, Kyle Benter and Adrian Marin.

Benter, Johnstone, Jarvis, Gilbert and Drinnon all recorded tackles for a loss for Newport-Mesa. The second half offensive line was led by Christian Abbey, Blake Bowie, Parks, Devin Magana, Alex Losoya, Luke Burnicle, Rafael Corvera, Doone, Daemon Kane and JP Pilz.

They opened holes for Walde and Drinnon, who scored his first touchdown.

Santa Fe Springs Saints 14, Newport-Mesa Seahawks 8: The Saints jumped out to a 14-0 lead on Sept. 30 before Newport-Mesa responded, as Chase Forrest hit Levi Stillman on a 40-yard touchdown pass. Taylor Parks’ conversion closed the gap to 14-8.

After giving up the two early scores, Newport-Mesa held the Saints to just two first downs. The defense was led by Kurt Walde, Bronson Gilbert, Kenny Drinnon, Cayman Carter, Adrian Marin, Garrett Farthing, Taro Doone, Dylan Rand-Luby, Kyle Benter, Stillman, Forrest, Jeff Carlyle, Chris Johnstone and Colby Koste.

Kory Cablay picked off a late pass, giving the Seahawks one last chance to score, but they couldn’t find the end zone.

Future League Division

Newport-Mesa Seahawks 39, Huntington Beach Oilers 0: The Seahawks had team captains Simon Dillon and Matt Thompson come up big with multiple sacks behind the line of scrimmage in the shutout on Oct. 7. Wide receiver CJ Rios compiled 166 yards of total offense behind blocks from Simon Hall and Abraham Marin. Running backs Joe Fuller and Emmett McGee made strong pushes down the field. Mike Ruiz, who played defensive back, quarterback and receiver, intercepted a ball for Newport-Mesa and nearly returned it for a touchdown.