Tars cook pressure

NEWPORT BEACH — Before Monday’s game against Los Alamitos High, a message snaked its way through the internal dialogue of the Newport Harbor football collective.

“Back, meet wall.”

There it was again, Monday night, as the Davidson Field scoreboard ticked down from 1 minute, 37 seconds.

And that was enough.

Down 27-24 with 1:37 left in regulation, the Tars drove 62 yards in 56 seconds for the game-winning touchdown, a five-yard run up the middle by junior wide receiver JB Green.

The Sailors covered 60 yards with a screen pass to Michael Helfrich that brought them to the Griffins’ seven-yard line with one minute left to play.

Newport Harbor quarterback Andrew McDonald picked up the Girffins’ blitz with just enough time, and was knocked to the ground as soon as he got the ball off to Helfrich.

“I called a screen to the field, and we caught [them] in a blitz,” said Coach Jeff Brinkley. “[Helfrich] did a great job. He chipped the guy off the edge that was one of the blitzers and Andrew did a great job with his poise, and just got the ball over the top of the guy.”

A sea of blue jerseys thundered down the Newport sideline after Helfrich, and three plays later, it was eerily quiet as the whole stadium waited for Dillian Freiberg’s PAT.

It was the difference between forcing the Griffins to kick a field goal, or score a touchdown if they hoped to stay in the game.

Freiberg’s kick sailed through the uprights, just like his previous three attempts.

But Coach Jeff Brinkley didn’t allow himself a smile until after the last play of the game, when Henry Pyle intercepted Los Alamitos quarterback Clark Evans’ pass with five seconds left in regulation.

The meaning of the Sailors’ third Sunset League game wasn’t lost on any of them.

After posting a 31-27 win over Los Alamitos (6-2, 2-1 in league), Newport Harbor (6-2, 2-1) found itself squarely in the mix for a shot at the playoffs.

Esperanza is also 2-1 after a 9-7 loss to Edison, leaving the three schools tied for first place in league.

“The kids knew they had their back to the wall, and the importance of this game,” Brinkley said. “They know that it’s a battle every week in this league for the playoffs, and as soon as you get a loss tagged on you like we did last week [against Esperanza], the next one becomes even that much more critical for you to come out and hopefully win the game.”

The Sailors managed to contain Evans (6-foot-4, 210 pounds), a hefty quarterback who rarely misses and is already finding himself courted by Division I college programs.

According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins has already offered the junior a scholarship.

Evans finished 21 for 33 for 321 passing yards and three touchdowns. At one point, he had 12 straight completions. Newport picked him off twice, but the defense batted down crucial passes as well.

“It was a great football game,” Brinkley said. “These guys, you have to give them credit. They’re a great football team and we would score and they would come right back.”

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com.

FIRST QUARTER

NH – Freiberg 28 FG, 3:49

SECOND QUARTER

LA – Richardson 15 pass from Evans (Abrams kick), 8:49.

NH – Green 28 pass from McDonald (Freiberg kick), 4:51.

LA – Richardson 5 pass from Evans (Abrams kick), 0:36.

THIRD QUARTER

LA – Abrams 26 FG, 9:07.

NH – Green 61 pass from McDonald (Freiberg kick), 6:21.

LA – Abrams 20 FG, 0:24

FOURTH QUARTER

NH – Helfrich 17 run (Freiberg kick), 4:33.

LA – Richardson 9 pass from Evans (Abrams kick), 1:37.

NH – Green 5 run (Freiberg kick), 0:41.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

LA – Evans 17-128; Washington 6-14.

NH – Helfrich 7-41, 1 TD; Frazier 11-31; Green 5-13, 1TD; McDonald 6-15.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

LA – Evans 21-33-2, 321, 3 TD.

NH – McDonald 10-13-0, 264, 2TD.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

LA – Richardson 6-85, 3 TD; Jenkins 5-110; Jones 4-57; Graves 4-48; Washington 2-21.

NH – Green 4-142, 2TD; Helfrich 1-60; Whiteside 3-42; Pyle 1-10; Campbell 1-10.