Yorba Linda Mustangs Trample Over Newport Harbor Sailors, 42-17 (2024)

Yorba Linda – Shapell Stadium

Versatility, is what comes to mind when thinking about what is needed to defeat a team like the Mustangs, and though every defeat comes with 20/20 hindsight and of course a “solid” game plan, reflections after the game can’t change the score.

Mustangs’ Cole Nerio led the herd into victory rushing for 136 yards averaging over 7 yards per carry. Late in the first quarter, the Sailors had no immediate answer for the Mustangs’ run game, resulting in Nerio rushing in for a 4-yard touchdown to crack the seal (7-0). With just under a minute left in the first quarter Mustangs’ QB Holden Nagin completes a 4-yard pass to receiver Tanner Eilers for a TD and FG pushing them. (14-0)

Newport Harbor, at the start of the second quarter, had a chance to clap back, and they did, Sailors’ QB Sammy Stremick fired a 37-yard complete to Cade Fegel for a TD and the FG, (14-7). Unfazed by the touchdown the Mustangs’ march on right back down the field with three minutes left in the half, Nerio strikes again with a 7-yard rushing touchdown and the FG, (21-7). You can’t teach hunger, the type of hunger that leaves you wanting nothing but the win. Well, Nerio has that hunger—just minutes after his last touchdown run and with under a minute in the first half, Nerio breaks free again for another 23-yard rushing TD, the Mustangs push onward. (28-7)

Beginning the second half, the Sailors receive the ball and capitalize on their first drive. Stremick’s completed long pass puts the Sailors’ in red zone positioning three minutes into the third quarter, which opens up an opportunity for Glenn Baranoski’s  2-yard Rushing TD. (28-14)

Yorba Linda’s  Nagin let loose another laser beam 16-yard pass completed to #10 Santiago Salas for a TD +FG, and Mustangs pulled away. (35-14)

Yorba Linda is inside Newport Harbor’s 20-yard line at the start of the fourth quarter which is all #12 Aiden Gutierrez needs for a 17-yard rushing score, again twisting the knife. (42-14)

By the last two minutes of the game, Newport finds a way to score a field goal pushing the final score to (42-17). Yorba Linda’s record extends to 8-1, while the Sailors incur a 3-6 record.