Newport Harbor Gets a Scare From Canyon

ORANGE —  The Newport Harbor-Canyon game wasn’t supposed to be a big game. The Comanches were unbeaten but with suspect credentials--their three victories came against schools that were a combined 0-9.

Canyon, however, proved to be as much a real thing as Newport Harbor on Friday, and the Sailors were lucky to escape with a 21-19 victory before an estimated crowd of 400.

Newport Harbor--which has a showdown with Savanna next week--kept its record spotless because it had enough defense to survive a 267-yard passing night by Comanche quarterback Adam Hoover, who completed 26 of 43 passes with two touchdowns. The Sailors did sack Hoover four times, two by senior noseguard Bill Johns, and Johns came up with the biggest save of the game--recovering a fumble by Hoover with 6:44 left to play.

“Somebody hit (Hoover) and I just dove on the ball,” Johns said. “I had to hang on because he was clawing at it.”

The Sailors, outscored 9-0 in the second half, made sure Canyon (3-1) never saw the ball again.

Although Newport Harbor quarterback John Girodani was also having an excellent night--11 for 20, 167 yards and a touchdown--they handed the ball to running back Jeremy Mason on 12 consecutive plays, from the 50 to the Canyon 16, and ran out the clock.

Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley was clearly impressed by Canyon. “Even with the (21-10) lead in the first half, our defense wasn’t controlling them,” Brinkley said.

“I also got conservative. We don’t like to get into scoring contests. But their offensive line protected better than we anticipated. Four sacks is not enough for a team that throws that much.”

Judging by the robotic reaction from Canyon Coach Bob Hughes afterward--”Just say how hard we played, that I’m really proud of them”--it was evident he was surprised to be that close to Newport Harbor at the end. “They just murdered Foothill, who we thought might be the best team in our league,” Hughes had said earlier.

It helped the Comanches that Greg Jacobs--the county’s leading receiver--was able to play despite nursing a separated right shoulder (he’s left-handed) and bruises to the rib cage.

Jacobs caught nine passes for 103 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown. But Hoover was willing to share the wealth; Larry Witt and Ryan McGonigal combined for 12 catches and 107 yards.