Sailors rally for big OT win

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The pile grew and grew, with Cole Kinder running the ball toward the end zone and his blockers trying to help him get there in overtime Friday night at Huntington Beach High.

The momentum grew throughout the second half for the Sailors, who still seemingly had to work for every yard in the key Sunset League game. They never led the game through regulation.

Kinder was ruled down at the one-yard line. On the next play, junior quarterback Michael Bonds registered his first carry of the game. He easily found the end zone up the middle as his teammates erupted.

Newport Harbor also got a key overtime interception from Dalton Rosene as it battled back for a big 33-27 overtime victory over Huntington Beach, a win that should drastically help the Sailors as they make a push for the CIF Southern Section West Valley Division playoffs over the next three weeks.

The Sailors (3-4, 1-1 in league), who snapped a four-game losing streak, are now tied for third in league with Huntington Beach (3-4, 1-1). Edison and Fountain Valley are tied for first at 2-0.

“These guys are battlers, and they want success,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “These guys work hard and want success … [this win is] huge. It’s really big, and we get to go home next week [to play Los Alamitos]. There’s a lot of football still to play, and we have some tough opponents coming up. This is the Sunset League. It’s always wild and crazy, so you never know what the hell’s going to go on.”

Brinkley could certainly say that about Friday night’s game, which featured a standout performance from Huntington Beach senior running back Hunter Simmons. Simmons, who came into the game fourth in Orange County in rushing yards, had 31 carries for 324 yards rushing, including touchdown runs of 18 and 69 yards in the first half. But the Sailors slowed him somewhat in the second half.

“The coaches just had a couple of tweaks up front,” Brinkley said. “You couldn’t adjust a whole lot, because we had already packed it in. We were playing eight guys in the box … but our defensive staff did a good job making a couple of minor adjustments. I think half of it was our kids just started playing harder.”

Huntington Beach got the ball first in overtime, in which each team got the ball at the opponent’s 25-yard line. Simmons was stuffed for no gain on first down, so the Oilers decided to pass on second down, just their sixth passing attempt of the night.

Kobe Benter was ready for it. Newport’s senior lineman hit Huntington Beach quarterback Kobee Lagarde as he threw. The pass fluttered in the air and was easily intercepted by Rosene. He couldn’t advance it, but possession switched over to the Sailors, needing to score any points to win.

A five-yard run was followed by a six-yarder by Kinder, who finished with 149 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns. The second carry in overtime gave the Sailors a first down at the Oilers 14-yard line. On the next play, the pile pushed to the one, and Bonds scored on the keeper after that.

Bonds, who completed 26 of 38 passes for 287 yards and an interception, had a pair of touchdown passes in the second half. The first one, to Benter, cut the Oilers’ lead in half. The second, a 26-yard play-action pass to Reed Rutter, tied the score at 27-27 with 5:01 to play in regulation.

Huntington Beach appeared to be driving for the win, but Newport senior safety Nate Harding recovered a fumble at the Sailors 35-yard line with 1:39 left. However, the Sailors went three-and-out, and a high snap on the punt gave the ball back to the Oilers at the Newport 20 with 57 seconds left to play.

On third-and-nine, Oilers Coach Eric Lo ran a trick play, a pass by receiver John Davis. It was well-executed, but the receiver appeared to drop the ball in the corner of the end zone. Then, a 36-yard field goal attempt was short. The Sailors kneeled, electing to play for overtime.

It was there that they continued to make plays and earn the big win.

Senior Max Durante and junior Gage Roberson were also among those who always seemed to be around the ball for the Sailors on defense. Everyone celebrated after the victory, knowing that 1-1 in league is a much better spot than 0-2.

“We stuck in there and the defense did a great job at the end of the game,” Bonds said. “We just never gave up. Hard work pays off. We kept our heads high coming into the second half, and I really loved how our team just got together and played hard … It’s a great win for our program, a great win for our community.”

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Newport Harbor 33, Huntington Beach 27 (OT)

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NH 6 – 7 – 0 –14 – 6—33

HB 13 – 14 – 0 – 0 – 0 — 27

FIRST QUARTER

HB – Partch 25 fumble return (Wilson kick), 11:42.

NH – Kinder 10 run (kick failed), 7:01.

HB – Simmons 18 run (kick failed), 1:42.

SECOND QUARTER

NH – Kinder 6 run (Blake kick), 9:01.

HB – Simmons 69 run (Wilson kick), 7:32.

HB – Davis 95 INT return (Wilson kick), 2:18.

FOURTH QUARTER

NH – Benter 7 pass from Bonds (Blake kick), 11:55.

NH – Rutter 26 pass from Bonds (Blake kick), 5:01.

OVERTIME

NH – Bonds 1 run.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

NH – Kinder, 33-149, 2 TDs.

HB – Simmons, 31-324, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

NH – Bonds, 26-38-1, 287, 2 TDs.

HB – Lagarde, 2-5-1, 47.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

NH – Hooper, 8-109.

HB – Davis, 2-47.