Newport Harbor Advances to Semifinals With Win Over Santa Barbara

Santa Barbra – Peabody Stadium

Santa Barbara – After traveling over two hours and over 130 miles, the Newport Harbor football team left Santa Barbara with nothing but smiles, as it beat Santa Barbara High School 49-14 on Friday at Cunningham Field.

The Sailors (5-7, 2-3) will be at home at Davidson Field in the semifinals against Dominguez of Compton next Friday at 7 p.m. The Dons (10-2, 3-2) defeated Santa Ana (8-4, 4-1) 40-34.

First, Newport Harbor had to defeat another team names the Dons, as it started the ball at midfield after the Dons (8-4, 2-1) were called for illegal catching on the opening kickoff, which turned out to be a pooch kick. The drive eventually ended with AJ Guitron-Moore finding Josiah Lamarque for a 28-yard touchdown, putting the Sailors up 7-0.

After Santa Barbara went three and out on its opening drive, it appeared as if Newport Harbor was on the verge of scoring again. But a low snap resulting in a turnover gave the ball back to the Dons, as their next drive ended with a touchdown off a screen pass from Abel Renteria finding Koa Herrera for a 36-yard touchdown, knotting the game at 7-7.

Two plays later, Newport Harbor retook the lead as Guitron-Moore found Lamarque for a 73-yard score, putting it up 14-7, which eventually wound up being the first quarter score. Santa Barbara tied the game at 14-14 after Renteria found Trent Williams for a three-yard score.
After that touchdown, the Dons were shut out the rest of the way, as their offense sputtered and was unable to produce positive yardage. In addition, they also accumulated 10 penalties for 91 yards in the first half alone.

Newport Harbor retook the lead for good, starting out with a 1-yard score from Henry Slater and on Santa Barbara’s next possession, a pass was picked off by Lamarque and returned for a pick six. With about a minute to go in the second quarter, Guitron-Moore orchestrated a methodical drive before halftime, which started at the Sailors’ 48 and ended with a 21-yard score from Lamarque.

Guitron-Moore finished the night 19 for 20, 238 yards and five touchdowns, also adding 14 yards on the ground as well. Lamarque finished with five receptions for 115 yards and five touchdowns, with the fifth one coming from Guitron-Moore in the fourth quarter. Postgame interview with Josiah (1:07).

Guitron-Moore (interview 1:53) praised the Newport Harbor offensive line, who hasn’t allowed him to get sacked this postseason. In addition to Lamarque’s big game, Henjum had 11 receptions, 106 receiving yards and one touchdown, which was a six-yard score in the third quarter.

The Sailors’ defense also stepped up, as it limited Santa Barbara’s rushing attack, which scored three touchdowns last week against Campbell Hall. Jeremy Ost also recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter to preserve the shutout.