Newport Harbor Kicker Makes Most of Second Chance

Josh Klein, Newport Harbor High School kicker, was just waiting for a second chance. It was up to his teammates to give him one, however.

After having a 46-yard field goal try blocked in the first quarter, Klein made a 31-yarder to help Newport Harbor beat La Habra, 10-7, in a nonleague game Thursday at Newport Harbor.

“You have to be loose,” said Klein, a junior who kicked a 47-yarder against Laguna Beach this season. “I got a good hold. I got solid foot into it.”

For much of the game it seemed Newport Harbor’s offense would not allow Klein a chance to kick again. The Sailors’ rushing game was bogged down and their passing was ineffective.

La Habra (2-2) also struggled offensively and the teams were scoreless until midway through the third quarter. Jeff Besinaiz, who gained 75 yards in 14 carries, gave the Highlanders the lead with a six-yard touchdown run.

On the next series, Newport Harbor (3-1) drove 69 yards for the tying touchdown, a one-yard sneak by quarterback Steve Scheck on fourth down.

Neither team could mount a scoring threat until Newport Harbor got the ball with 3 minutes 51 seconds left in the game. Matt White, a senior wide receiver, slipped behind the La Habra secondary and caught a pass from Scheck for a 44-yard gain to the Highlander 20.

The Sailors got to the 14, where the drive stalled.

“We weren’t going to take too many chances down there,” said Jeff Brinkley, Newport Harbor’s coach. Klein came in and kicked his field goal and Newport Harbor led, 10-7, with 1:32 left.

“(The offense) got it down there perfectly,” Klein said, breaking into a wide smile.