Tars nab Sunset win

NEWPORT BEACH — In a must-win situation, Newport Harbor High Coach Jeff Brinkley had no tricks up his sleeve on Halloween Night.

“The kids knew the situation,” Brinkley said. “I don’t [kid around with] them.”

Brinkley was not fooling around.

Seventy-six seconds before the first half ended, when it seemed the play before the Sailors almost buried Esperanza by going ahead by three touchdowns, Brinkley called a timeout and walked onto the field.

He was not in a good mood.

While standing next to his team between the hash marks on the opposition’s 35-yard line, Brinkley argued an illegal formation penalty. The flag nullified a 19-yard touchdown pass.

For most of the timeout, Brinkley used it to state his case.

The plea made no difference.

It did not matter because the Sailors took care of business, earning their first Sunset League victory of the season with a 35-6 rout at Davidson Field Friday night.

The way Brinkley sees the final two regular-season games, Newport Harbor (5-3, 1-2 in league) must win out to earn one of the league’s three automatic playoff berths.

“The start of the playoffs for us,” Brinkley told his Sailors before the game.

They proved they are worthy of returning to the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs for the second straight year if they continue to out-muscle teams like they did Esperanza, which shared the league championship last season.

The Aztecs (6-2, 2-1) squeaked by their first two league games with three-point victories.

The only squeaking heard at Newport Harbor were the orange and black balloons during the Halloween homecoming celebration.

By the time those popped, Newport Harbor’s defense had already popped the Aztecs.

Esperanza is not a team that can play catch-up. The Sailors grounded the Aztecs’ running game with a gang-tackling effort. One led to a defensive touchdown midway through the second quarter.

Cornerback JB Green picked up running back Jared Moore’s fumble on Esperanza’s 10 and easily scored, giving Newport Harbor a 21-6 lead.

This contest was not close at halftime as the previous two league contests were for both teams.

Andrew McDonald’s right arm played a major role as to why the Sailors took control.

The senior quarterback competed 11 of 14 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown in the first half.

Contributing to McDonald’s success was his ability to spread the ball around. He connected with six players.

After misfiring on the first two attempts in the third quarter, McDonald found his rhythm. He hooked up with wide receiver Cecil Whiteside on a beautiful seven-yard fade in the corner of the end zone.

“Our line played a heck of a game,” McDonald said of left tackle Scott Ward, left guard Peter Kinney, center Michael McKay, right guard Jake Taylor and right tackle Alex Rios. “They gave me plenty of time to throw.

“I just gave my guys the opportunity [to make plays].”

The quick passes allowed McDonald to avoid the blitz-crazy Aztecs.

They play an unconventional 3-5-3 defense, attacking the quarterback from numerous angles that even a geometry teacher would be confused.

Early on, Green helped McDonald out. Green’s seven receptions for 97 yards and one touchdown came in the first half.

There was no need for McDonald to throw as much the rest of the way. He finished with 180 yards and two touchdowns.

The Sailors ran senior Michael Helfrich 15 times for 90 yards and one touchdown.

The touchdown came in the first quarter after Esperanza marched 80 yards on seven plays to score on the opening drive.

With the defense stuffing the run, McDonald completed back-to-back 22-yard passes.

Green, all alone, converted a first down on third-and-8 after hauling in a pass near the Sailors’ sideline and putting the offense past midfield.

McDonald threw a quick pass to tight end Ned Lyon going to the right. Whiteside sprung Lyon free with a devastating block near the 40.

After completing two straight passes, McDonald handed it off to Helfrich. He ran right and found the end zone with 2:01 left in the quarter.

At the time, it seemed like this might be another battle for Newport Harbor like last week’s 22-21 loss to Fountain Valley.

The Sailors never allowed it to be. Next is Marina (0-3 in league).

“We put together a pretty complete package, which we needed to do,” said Brinkley, adding the only drawback was possibly losing backup guard Brandon Coffey to a knee injury. “They knew exactly what was necessary.”

NEWPORT HARBOR 35, ESPERANZA 6

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Esperanza 6-0-0-0--6

Newport 7-14-7-7--35

FIRST QUARTER

E – S. McDonald 23 pass from Huusfeldt (kick failed), 8:04.

NH – Helfrich 12 run (Freiberg kick), 2:01.

SECOND QUARTER

NH – Green 11 pass from A. McDonald (Freiberg kick), 7:25.

NH – Green 10 fumble return (Freiberg kick), 6:41.

THIRD QUARTER

NH – Whiteside 7 pass from A. McDonald (Freiberg kick), 7:40.

FOURTH QUARTER

NH – Andrews 1 run (Freiberg kick), 8:44.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

E – Moore, 22-127; Hunsaker, 8-23; Huusfeldt, 7-12; S. McDonald, 1-2.

NH – Helfrich, 15-90, 1 TD; Diller, 1-6; Andrews, 2-5, 1 TD; G. Gute, 1-minus; C. Gute, 2-minus 2; A. McDonald, 2-minus 13.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

E – Huusfeldt, 8-17-1, 92, 1 TD.

NH – A. McDonald, 15-22-0, 180, 2 TDs; Rios, 0-2-0, 0.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

E – S. McDonald, 5-50, 1 TD; Pierce, 3-42.

NH – Green, 7-97, 1 TD; Miller, 3-31; Lyon, 1-22; Andrews, 1-11; Whiteside, 2-10, 1 TD; Helfrich, 1-9.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.