Newport Harbor 27 - Eagles 16
Costly Turnovers Do in Santa Margarita
NEWPORT BEACH, CA., November 5, 1992 – Things went sour for the Eagle (7-2, 4-2) offense as five turnovers either killed drives or set up scores Newport Harbor (7-2, 4-2) in a Sea View League game to determine the second place place team for the playoffs.
On a night that the defense played well, the offense could not finish what it started. Three drives went inside the twenty in the first half, but turnovers ended the possible scores.
Another drive resulted in a Sailor score as Sean O'Brien was blind-sided and his fumble was scooped up and returned 56 yards to give Newport a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
Another turnover led to a 1-yard score by Wade Tift to give the Sailors a 21-10 halftime lead.
Things did not get any better in the second half. Newport could only add two field goals, while the offense put together a scoring drive as time ran out.
O'Brien threw 46 times for a school record, and the offense had over 400 yards in total offense. Brian Finneran had 10 catches for 138 yards, including a 19-yard reception in the first quarter.
The loss put the Eagles in a two-way tie for second place with Newport.
| Newsport Harbor | 7 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
NH – Tift 29 run (Stuckey kick)
SM – Brian Finneran 19 pass from O'Brien (Korinke kick)
NH – Lumpkin 56 fumble recovery (Stuckey kick)
NH – Tift 1 run (Stuckey kick)
SM – Korinke 26 FG
NH – Stuckey 25 FG
NH – Stuckey 22 FG
SM – Brad Finneran 25 pass from O'Brien (kick failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Tiernan 8-58, Duffy 4-40, O'Brien 12-50
Passing: O'Brien 20-46-3, 244, .434%, 2 TD
Receiving: Brian Finneran 10-145, Bd. Finneran 5-72, Duffy 4-22
Defense: Breen 13 tackles; Bri. Finneran 8 tackles
Newport Harbor proves defensive - Pressure in backfield fells Santa Margarita
NEWPORT BEACH – Newport Harbor's defense bent several times Thursday night, but in the end it was Santa Margarita and its star quarterback, Sean O'Brien, that finally broke.
The Sailors pressured O'Brien throughout the game, forcing three interceptions, recovering two fumbles and sacking O'Brien four times en route to a 27-16 Sea View League victory before an estimated 1,200 at Newport Harbor High.
The victory moves the Sailors (4-2, 7-2) into a tie for second with Santa Margarita in the league standings.
Santa Margarita (4-2, 7-2) came into the game ranked sixth in the county, and Newport Harbor coach Jeff Brinkley said it was imperative to put pressure on O'Brien.
"So we threw in a few coverages we hadn't shown before, put some heat on him (with blitzes) at times, and then dropped back into normal coverage once in a while," Brinkley said.
"We certainly didn't want him to get comfortable back there. He is the type of kid if he gets into a rhythm he can pick you to pieces."
Instead, Newport's defense did the picking, especially in the first half when the Sailors took a 21-10 lead.
The Sailors' line, composed of Beau Ralphs, Doug Kimble, Phil Bloomberg, Craig Conlee and Nathan Lumpkin, chased O'Brien most of the night.
O'Brien came into the game with a 68 percent completion ratio and had been intercepted only twice.
He was 11 of 31 in the first half, however, and was intercepted three times.
The defense set up Newport's first two touchdowns. Justin Ketcham intercepted an O'Brien pass at the Santa Margarita 37 and returned it to the 28 with 7:32 left in the first quarter.
On the next play, tailback Wade Tift, who finished with 157 yards in 28 carries, found a hole on the right side and went 28 yards for the touchdown.
Santa Margarita came back with an 83-yard drive on its next series with O'Brien hitting Brian Finneran for a 19-yard touchdown.
O'Brien had another drive stopped at the 1 with another interception, and Newport Harbor's defense came up with another big play midway through the second quarter. Lumpkin sacked O'Brien on a third down and forced a fumble at the Santa Margarita 44. He then picked it up and ran 56 yards for a touchdown.
Tift set up Newport's third touchdown of the half. After Ryan Korinke's 26-yard field goal with 1:49 to play, he returned the kickoff 58 yards to the Santa Margarita 33. Five plays later, Tift scored from a yard out with 19 seconds left in the half.
On the defense: Besides Ketcham, Chris Hunter and Chris Edwards had interceptions for Newport Harbor, and Craig Conlee recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter.
Noteworthy: The biggest recipient of the victory could be Irvine, which can wrap up the league title with a victory over University tonight. Brian Finneran caught 10 passes for 138 yards.
By David Osterman
Saturday, November 6, 1992
The Orange County Register - C1
Orange County Football Top Ten
1. Los Alamitos.......................9-0
2. Rancho Alamitos....................8-1
3. Esperanza..........................8-1
4. Irvine.............................8-1
5. Trabuco Hills......................8-1
6. Servite............................7-1-1
7. Mater Dei..........................7-1-1
8. El Dorado..........................8-1
9. Sunny Hills........................7-1-1
10. Santa Margarita...................7-2
