Mesa beats Baldwin Hills

The Newport-Mesa Jr. All-American Midget Seahawks defeated Baldwin

Hills 12-6 in the quarterfinal playoffs at Fountain Valley High

Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Seahawks (10-2) advance to the semifinals

against co-No. 1 seed Carson Saturday at Jackie Robinson Stadium in

Los Angeles at 7 p.m.

After Baldwin Hills scored in the fourth quarter to make it 12-6,

the Seahawks put together a drive that lasted 6 minutes, 30 seconds,

running out the clock and giving Newport-Mesa the win. The Seahawks

scored their first touchdown in the first quarter, with running back

Michael Helfrich taking it 15 yards to the end zone. The score was

set up on a 25-yard pass to tight end Andrew Yelich from quarterback

Mitch Sands to keep the drive alive. In the third quarter, Branden

Kula picked off a Baldwin Hills’ pass in the end zone to put the

Seahawks up, 12-0.

Baldwin Hills returned a punt to the 3-yard line in the fourth

quarter, setting up its only touchdown. But the team could not stop

the running of Helfrich to get the ball back. Helfrich was running

behind the line of Andrew Paddon, Kyle Cablay, William Ham, Yelich,

Ron Sadler, Matt Morris and fullback Taylor McSunas. If Costa Mesa

defeats the Colts Saturday, they advance to the championship game

Dec. 4 at Mission Viejo High.