Sailors flex to collect victory

DANA POINT — In the battle-tested system of Newport Harbor High football, flexibility is the key.

Defenders must bend but not bow to the extended threat of opponents’ possessions, while the Sailors must show pliability sufficient on offense to mix an occasional explosive pass with a methodical running game.

The Sailors displayed both Friday to claim a 28-14 nonleague victory at Dana Hills, upping their record to 3-1 while dropping the Dolphins to 0-5.

Newport Harbor scored on three of its four first-half possessions, including its first two on processions that began deep in its own territory.

The Tars went 73 yards on seven plays with the opening kickoff, with junior tailback Michael Helfrich, filling in for injured senior Ben Frazier, capping the march with a one-yard run with 9:16 left in the first quarter.

Sophomore Dillan Freiberg added the first of his four conversion kicks and the Sailors had all they would need to break a two-game losing streak against the South Coast League representatives, who also operate in the same CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division.

After junior cornerback Danny Miller intercepted to halt an eight-play Dolphins drive that had advanced to the Sailors’ nine-yard line, the visitors used 10 plays to traverse the remaining 81 yards, as Miller, fittingly, scored on a four-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.

Dana Hills, which has lost its first four games to respected opponents Orange Lutheran, El Dorado, Los Alamitos and Loyola, all by respectable scores, showed it was intent on ending its season of woe.

The Dolphins, spearheaded by junior tailback Brett Giesen and junior quarterback Sean Schroeder, marched 78 yards on nine plays. Giesen capped the drive with a one-yard run, though a mix-up on the conversion led to a pass intercepted in the end zone by Newport Harbor safety Henry Pyle.

Dana Hills plucked an interception of its own to halt Harbor’s ensuing possession, as junior Brian Pauling returned it 10 yards to the hosts’ 45-yard line.

But the Newport defense produced its first three-and-out and the ensuing punt went into the end zone for a touchback.

The Sailors, who outgained the Dolphins, 143 yards to 43 in the first quarter, stayed on the ground to open its drive. Helfrich, surprisingly stout for his 6-foot, 178-pound frame, carved out chunks of five and six yards, before being dumped for a three-yard loss at his 28.

Helfrich then caught a screen pass for six yards, before junior receiver JB Green caught a 10-yard hitch to convert a third-and-seven situation.

Seizing the moment, Green broke loose on a sideline streak and junior quarterback Andrew McDonald hit him in stride for a 56-yard scoring play that made it 21-6 with 1:19 left in the half.

Dana Hills took the second-half kickoff and went 70 yards on 16 plays, converting a third-and-two, a third-and-one and a fourth-and-inches along the way. On fourth-and-one from the Sailors’ two-yard line, Schroeder hit a receiver in the end zone, but the would-be touchdown pass was dropped, giving the Sailors possession.

The miscue reinforced Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley’s time-honored hypothesis, that if you keep forcing the opposing offense to execute, eventually, it will make a mistake, or allow your defense to make a game-changing play.

Newport, with Helfrich thumping off tackle and McDonald throwing efficiently — he wound up with nine completions in 11 passing attempts for 236 yards and one touchdown — drove 98 yards on nine plays, including a 64-yard catch-and-run by tight end Dusty Campbell, to earn its second straight win.

Helfrich gained 90 yards on 24 carries and also caught two passes for 10 yards.

Green finished with three receptions for 108 yards and Campbell managed 79 yards on his two catches.

McDonald utilized five receivers to produce his career-high passing output.

It was the fourth interception in the last two games for Miller, who was joined by sophomore middle linebacker Cecil Whiteside as defensive standouts for the Sailors.

“It felt real good the way we played against a [Pac-5 team],” Helfrich said. “Our line did a great job and our offense rolled.”

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.

FIRST QUARTER

NH – Helfrich 1 run (Freiberg kick), 9:16.

SECOND QUARTER

NH – Miller 4 run (Freiberg kick), 11:55.

DH – Giesen 1 run (pass failed), 7:32.

NH – Green 56 pass from McDonald (Freiberg kick), 1:19.

FOURTH QUARTER

NH – Helfrich 8 run (Freiberg kick), 11:54.

DH – Denso 19 pass from Schroeder (Howe run), 0:37.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

NH – Helfrich, 24-90, 2 TDs; McDonald, 2-10; Miller, 1-1, 1 TD; Kula, 1-2; Yokoyama, 1-minus-1; Team, 1-minus-1.

DH – Giesen, 15-68, 1 TD; Schroeder, 6-40; Altuzarra, 6-29.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

NH – McDonald, 9-11-1, 231, 1 TD; Jones, 1-2-0, 5.

DH – Schroeder, 18-27-1, 156, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

NH – Green, 3-108, 1 TD; Campbell, 2-79; Helfrich, 2-20; Pyle, 1-15; Kula, 1-9; Yokoyama, 1-5.

DH – Giesen, 4-25; McCloskey, 4-29.