Sailors stomp Barons

HUNTINGTON BEACH — All week long tailback Michael Helfrich was hearing one thing from those who would block for him on Friday night.

“Just run hard, don’t stop moving your feet.”

The sophomore, who started the season as the fourth-string running back on the Newport Harbor High team, listened to those with more experience than himself. And in what could be the team’s final game of the season Helfrich ran for 281 yards and three touchdowns as the Sailors won their season finale over Sunset League foe Fountain Valley, 35-14, Friday at Huntington Beach High.

Of his 33 carries, only once did Helfrich get stopped for a loss or no gain.

“The offensive line played unbelievable,” said Helfrich who made his third varsity start because of injuries the team’s other running backs. “The whole team, the defense, even the special teams played great. The offensive line, [fullback] Chaz Vickery, their blocking, they made huge holes. I just ran hard and never stopped moving my feet.”

The Sailors (6-4, 3-2 in league) needed a victory to stay alive for the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division [formerly Division I] playoffs. Helfrich said it was important to play well for the seniors on the team.

“I’m a sophomore and I just wanted to do it for them,” Helfrich said. “I just wanted to do it for the seniors.”

Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said he was not surprised to see a sophomore take the final game as seriously as the seniors on the team.

“Our kids know that there are high expectations when they play for Newport Harbor,” Brinkley said. “When the young guys come in and step up, the senior lineman they appreciate that.”

Helfrich along with the offensive line grew stronger as the game progressed. In the second half the 6-foot 162-pound tailback ran for 218 yards on 21 carries, with two touchdowns in the game’s final quarter to seal the outcome.

Senior right tackle Frank Muscatello, who had runs of 57 and 65 yards from Helfrich come his way, said while he was proud of the Helfrich, Vickery and the offensive line it was the entire team that won the game.

“It was great for [Helfrich] to step up for us like that,” Muscatello said. “The offensive line, we were just a part of the whole team effort. We played pretty good. Hopefully it was enough to get us in. We showed the CIF something tonight.”

The Sailors will not find out until Sunday whether they made the playoffs. After No. 5-ranked Esperanza’s 42-7 victory over Marina Friday the Tars finished in fourth place in the league missing out on one of the three guaranteed playoff spots.

Newport Harbor, which has made the playoffs seven consecutive years, was dealt another blow to its playoff hopes when No. 7 Servite upset No. 2 Santa Margarita, 36-16, Friday, leaving the Sailors competing with either Santa Margarita or No. 7 Mater Dei, both of which finished with a better record.

“We’ll see and hope for the best,” Brinkley said. “They played great tonight. We were able to go out there together and put together a whole game.”

In the games final 25 minutes the defense took control. The Sailors registered six sacks in that time and kept the Barons without an offensive touchdown, holding Fountain Valley (5-5, 1-4 in league) to minus-10 yards rushing and 46 yards passing.

Senior defensive end Bryce Jardine had a hand in three of the Sailors’ six sacks.

“We came to play,” Jardine said. “They just got tired. They fought pretty hard. Their quarterback was fast, we just got lucky.”

Now the waiting begins.