Newport Harbor Scores First League Win Against Fountain Valley (2022)

Newport Beach – Davidson Field

Newport Beach – The Newport Harbor football team didn’t disappoint in its homecoming game, as it beat Fount
in Valley 42-15 on Friday at Davidson Field.

In earning its first Sunset League win of the season, the Sailors guaranteed themselves at least a .500 record. They did so without wide receiver Kashton Henjum, who was out due to a hamstring injury, but should be back next week according to coach Peter Lofthouse.

“I think we were able to adapt and start moving on without him and learn from it and get other guys the ball,” Josiah Lamarque said.

Newport Harbor’s opening drive in the first half looked promising, as Colton Joseph hit Lamarque for a 51-yard reception to get the team down to the 10-yard line. But the drive stalled out as the Sailors had their field goal attempt blocked by Fernando Garcia.

The Barons took advantage of the big-time special teams play, as on third down, Noa Banua hit Nolan Olivares for a 74-yard touchdown pass which put them up for the first time in league play.

The lead was short-lived, as Newport Harbor responded in a big way, as Joseph hit Lamarque with a 10-yard touchdown pass as Lamarque stretched to get to the goal line and tie the game. The two hooked up again on the Sailors’ next drive as the pass came from 34 yards out as Lamarque had just enough daylight to make it in the endzone.

The Newport Harbor defense cleaned up it act after giving up the first touchdown, as Fountain Valley didn’t see a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter.

The second quarter saw the Sailors continue their offensive output, as they rode the hot hand of Joseph all the way down to the nine-yard line. He then found Daniel Remsen off a short screen pass for the score.

On the Barons’ kickoff, a fumble was recovered by Tanner Muir of Newport Harbor, which saw its offense back on the field in no time flat. One play was all that was needed as Joseph found a wide-open Jack Cereda for a 29-yard score.

Fountain Valley didn’t get back on the board until late in the fourth quarter when it recovered a fumble and two plays later, Esquivel ran it in for a touchdown. But the game had already been decided at that point.

“This win is huge, but we got to move to next week. Next week’s big,” Joseph said.

Newport Harbor (5-3, 1-2) returns to action next Friday when it plays “on the road” against Corona Del Mar in the annual Battle of the Bay game at 7 p.m. For Fountain Valley (4-4, 0-3), its next game is next Friday when they play Edison in the annual Bell Game held at Orange Coast College at 7 p.m.