Sailors Swamp Marina in Home Opener
There’s nothing like some good ol’ home cookin’ to feed a hungry football team and the Newport Harbor Sailors feasted on the Marina High Vikings for its first win of the season, a 44-14 home opening victory at Davidson Field.
“We wanted to start fast, play well early, then continue to play well all night,” said Harbor Head Coach Peter Lofthouse, whose team did nearly precisely that. It was a confidence-building reboot after a flat, season-opening loss at Yorba Linda.
“All the seniors, and juniors, and all the leadership guys got together and determined we’re not gonna let that happen again,” said Sailors’ senior quarterback Nick Kim. “We started off the wrong way, and we’re gonna make this season something.”
Marina’s (0-2) opening kickoff was the one aberration as the Harbor (1-1) return team never actually received it. A high, short squib kick near the Vikings’ sideline took a strange backward bounce and was recovered by Marina without a Sailor touching the ball.
The setback only served to fuel the Sailors’ defensive resolve. Setting the tone on Marina’s first play from scrimmage, junior safety Johnny Chaix threw the ballcarrier for a four yard loss. The defense shoved the Vikings back another three yards before forcing a punt and would allow only one first down on Marina’s six first-half possessions. The one first down was the result of an NHHS penalty.
Beginning from their own three yard line, the NHHS offense set sail quickly on the wind of Kashton Henjum. The reigning Sunset League Receiver of the Year gathered in a 7-yard first down reception from quarterback Nick Kim on 3rd & 5 to give the Sailors breathing room. Going right back to the well on the next play, Kim lofted a long pass up the Harbor sideline that Henjum hauled in about 25 yards downfield. Fighting off tacklers, the junior playmaker kept his feet and raced down to the Marina 21 yard line before he was shoved out of bounds. The 64-yard catch & carry set up the first score of the night two plays later when Kim hit Henjum in the right flat. With senior tackle Grayson Simon out front providing impressive downfield blocking, Henjum muscled in for a 16-yard touchdown. It was 7-0 Sailors after sophomore kicker Jon Richardson converted the extra point.
Kim and Henjum connected on three passes for 87 yards and a touchdown on the seven-play opening drive. On the defensive side of the ball, Henjum also contributed an interception, the first of three straight Harbor forced turnovers in the first quarter. After Chaix blocked a Marina punt deep in its own territory, junior Jacob Carlon recovered on the Vikings’ nine yard line. Two straight Payton Irving carries resulted in a five yard touchdown run and a 14-0 NHHS lead. On the ensuing kickoff, junior linebacker Leo Davis recovered a Marina fumble at the 25 yard line.
Two plays later, it was sophomore Josiah Lamarque’s turn to shine. Taking a quick pass from Kim, Lamarque showed patience working to the sideline before out-sprinting everybody to the end zone. The 22-yard touchdown plus the extra point made it 21-nothing with just under two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
A key 3rd down play later in the second quarter further highlighted Lamarque’s unique talent as he worked inside for the reception, juked a swarm of defenders and worked outside for an 18-yard first down reception to the six yard line. Irving’s second touchdown run of the night made it 28-0 and the rout was on.
“They’re special athletes,” Lofthouse said of his two All-League, underclassmen receivers Henjum and Lamarque. “They help drive the engine of our offense. When we can get them the ball in space, we looked a lot more productive.”
With the mission all but accomplished and plenty of breathing room on the scoreboard, Lofthouse used the remainder of the game to work in players off the bench, allowing first-teamers to relax, sort of. Starting defensive back Carson de Avila took over at quarterback on Harbor’s next possession. de Avila capped a six play drive with a 9-yard touchdown run to make it 35-0. Senior Hayden Farley contributed a 27-yard run on the drive and also had a 37-yard would-be touchdown called back on a holding penalty.
“You can see the difference with Carson is his athleticism,” Lofthouse noted. “He can run and he’s obviously a great defensive player for us.”
Not to be usurped, Kim re-entered on the next possession and promptly connected with Henjum on a 67-yard pass play up the Marina sideline. Most impressive, perhaps, was the offensive lineman Simon working deep downfield to lead the blocking on the big gain. It led to a Richardson 30-yard field goal to make it 38-0 at half.
Many of the Harbor backups made the most of their opportunities in the second half. Senior quarterback AJ Guitron-Moore showed he is a capable reserve, hitting on 4-of-5 pass attempts to three different receivers. Junior Jack Cereda made two receptions while sophomore runningback Henry Slater made the biggest play of the second half; a 53-yard touchdown sprint up the middle on a 4th & 2 play.
“I really like what I see out of him right now,” Lofthouse reflected on Slater, who was injured and did not play in Yorba Linda game. “He’s a special athlete. You’re gonna hear that name a lot more.”
The big play helped Slater finish the night as Harbor’s leading rusher with 60 yards on three carries. Irving finished with 26 yards on 8 carries and two touchdowns while Farley contributed 25 yards on two carries.
Henjum finished with five receptions for 163 yards, while contributing the interception on defense. Lamarque shined on just two receptions for 40 yards and a score while also recovering a fumble on defense. Kim completed 9 of his 14 pass attempts for 210 yards and a touchdown. de Avila was 2-for-3 passing with a touchdown run. The offense committed one turnover on a first half fumble following a 15-yard pass completion.
The Sailors now look ahead to next Thursday night when JSerra Catholic visits Davidson Field, a game Kim has looked forward to for three years.
“It’s personal for me. I went there my freshman year, so this game means a lot to me and I’m really excited about it,” Kim said.
“We’ve got another big one next week,” Lofthouse added. “It’s gonna be back here at Harbor, hopefully it’ll be another great crowd and is should be a great football game.”
– Matt Morrison