Tars ‘Frei’ Griffins

CERRITOS — It was a short week for Newport Harbor High to prepare for the regular-season finale.

The way things were going Thursday night, the Sailors almost had to wait all off-season to get ready for their next football game.

In a must-win game to keep its postseason hope alive, Newport Harbor almost gave away the opportunity.

Los Alamitos forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass, but the resilient Sailors kept their season alive with a 24-23 come-from-behind Sunset League victory at Gahr High.

The Sailors rushed the field when time expired. They did so 13 seconds after Dillan Freiberg hit a 22-yard game-winning field goal to upset Los Alamitos (8-2, 3-2 in league), ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division poll.

Freiberg came through in the clutch as Newport Harbor (7-3, 3-2) won its third straight league game.

The Sailors most likely will earn one of the league’s three automatic berths into the Pac-5 Division playoffs.

Quarterback Andrew McDonald, who engineered a 12-play, 75-yard game-winning drive, taking up 4:06, will be rooting for Edison (3-1 in league) to beat Esperanza (2-2 in league) tonight.

The Chargers should beat the Aztecs and claim the outright league title. If the Aztecs pull off the upset, five teams in the league would finish 3-2, creating all sorts of drama.

Freiberg made sure the Sailors were still in the mix.

“He missed that one against [Fountain Valley],” said McDonald, referring to Freiberg’s 44-yard field-goal attempt coming up short as time expired in a 22-21 league loss on Oct. 23 to the Barons, who also could clinch a playoff spot if Edison wins because they’re 3-2 in league and hold the head-to-head advantage over Los Alamitos.

“He’s been practicing his [butt] off. He was ready for this and he just drilled it.”

Los Al tried to ice Freiberg, calling a timeout before he attempted the field goal.

It made no difference.

“After I made the first one [which didn’t count], I was pretty sure I was going to make the second one,” Freiberg said. “It was a great snap and hold. I’ve done it a million times in practice.”

Stunned is how the Griffins looked afterward. Their chance to claim at least a share of the league title vanished.

Their star quarterback, Clark Evans, headed to Colorado, threw a desperation ball past midfield. It fell incomplete and the game was over.

The game seemed to belong to Los Alamitos, leading, 23-21, with the ball on Newport Harbor’s three midway through the fourth quarter.

The Griffins had come up with their fourth turnover. Five plays later, running back Cody Perez appeared to find the end zone for the third time on the ground.

A holding penalty nullified the touchdown and pushed Los Alamitos back to the 12. Two plays later, safety Michael Helfrich saved the Sailors.

Helfrich intercepted Evans’ throw in the end zone with 4:19 left.

“Our defense stepped up,” Helfrich said. “We cannot have four turnovers. That’s insane.”

This was all the Sailors needed, another opportunity to knock off Los Alamitos late and possibly ruin the Griffins’ postseason bid for the second straight year.

Newport Harbor managed to run the ball with Helfrich, who finished with 165 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries.

There was plenty of time to run the ball, so Helfrich ran.

But it was McDonald, who finished 17 for 24 with 254 yards and one touchdown, moving the chains three times with his arm.

McDonald threw the ball like he did on a 17-yard beauty to wide receiver Cecil Whiteside that resulted in a touchdown early in the fourth.

This time, McDonald hit tight end Gabe Gomez for 12 yards and then receiver Adrian Luchs for 25, putting the Sailors on Los Alamitos’ 44.

Three straight runs set up McDonald’s 14-yard pass to receiver JB Green. The Sailors were now on the 24 and in field-goal range.

McDonald’s 14-yard bootleg run to the right gave Freiberg an easier attempt. McDonald spiked it with 22 seconds remaining.

Helfrich ran again, getting to the five before calling a timeout.

The Sailors were on their way to beating their first top-10 Pac-5 Division opponent this season and returning to the playoffs for the second straight season.

NEPORT HARBOR 24, LOS ALAMITOS 23

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Newport 7-7-0-10--24

Los Al 7-10-0-6--23

FIRST QUARTER

NH — Helfrich 4 run (Freiberg kick), 6:32.

LA — Evans 13 run (Boyer kick), 3:41.

SECOND QUARTER

LA — Perez 2 run (Boyer kick), 8:40.

NH — Andrews 1 run (Freiberg kick), 7:18.

LA — Boyer 32 FG, 1:42.

FOURTH QUARTER

NH — Whiteside 17 pass from McDonald (Freiberg kick), 10:24.

LA — Perez 2 run (run failed), 8:11.

NH— Freiberg 22 FG, 0:13.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

NH— Helfrich, 24-165, 1 TD; McDonald, 4-31; Andrews, 1-1, 1 TD.

LA — Evans, 19-133, 1 TD; Perez, 15-62, 2 TD; Cheri, 1-minus 4.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

NH — McDonald, 17-24-1, 254, 1 TD.

LA — Evans, 12-20-1, 128.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

NH— Whiteside, 4-65, 1 TD; Green, 6-61; Lyon, 2-49 ; Luchs, 2-48; Kula, 1-16; Gomez, 1-12; Helfrich, 1-3.

LA — Jenkins, 10-118; Barut, 1-7; Richardson, 1-3.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].