NEWPORT BEACH — Newport Harbor football coach Peter Lofthouse came into Friday night’s CIF-SS playoff game against Valencia feeling extremely prepared.
The Sailors looked ready in all phases of the game and won the battle of defending CIF-SS champions 43-17 over Valencia of Valencia in the first round of the Division 4 playoffs at Newport Harbor High.
“This was without a doubt, our best week of prep and practice,” Lofthouse said. “Our kids definitely showed it on the field and when you practice and prepare well, you usually play well.”
The Vikings, who won the Division 5 title last season, were outmatched from the beginning as Newport Harbor (7-4) used defense and big connections from quarterback Colton Joseph and wide receiver Josiah Lamarque to jump ahead.
Joseph finished 16 of 18 for 213 yards and four total touchdowns (three passing and one rushing), while Lamarque caught eight passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Kashton Henjum added five receptions for 90 yards.
Newport Harbor QB Colton Joseph had 4 total TDs in the Sailors 43-17 win over Valencia. Next up is a road game at Newbury Park. @ocvarsity @NHTarsFootball @_ColtonJoseph1 @JosiahLamarque pic.twitter.com/jKMa6ztlIV
— David Delgado (@DavidDelgado_OC) November 5, 2022
Newport Harbor, the Division 6 champs a year ago, will be on the road against Newbury Park next week in the quarterfinals.
The Sailors took their opening drive to the Valencia 1-yard line after a Lamarque catch but were called for a false-start penalty on the next play. They elected to have Jon Richardson kick a 23-yard field goal to open the scoring.
On the next possession for Valencia (5-6), the Sailors’ Garrett Emerson picked off Tyler Erickson and returned it 29 yards for a pick-six and a 10-0 lead.
Emerson, a senior cornerback, blocked a punt on the next Vikings drive which helped set up Joseph’s 38-yard TD pass to Lamarque on a fourth-down play to make it 17-0.
“When you have your best guys on the field and they’re moving the ball you have more confidence as a coach,” Lofthouse said, “so you feel confident and sure that they’re going to execute on fourth down.”
Emerson, Jacob Carlon, Tanner Muir and Cam Denoon led a defensive unit that collected four sacks and two interceptions.
Erickson was under constant pressure all night and was unable to get in a rhythm with receivers Brandon Boateng, Ralph Testa and Jayboe Wilson until the end of the game when the result was all but decided.
“They’re starting to play with some more confidence again and getting that swagger back,” Lofthouse said of his defense. “Emerson got the pick-six, you saw guys hitting the quarterback as soon as he’s throwing it and putting a lot of pressure (on him), it’s a trickle-down effect, when you play with confidence, the team starts playing at a higher level and that happened tonight.”
Joseph’s second quarter TD-run and Robby Crowell’s 39-yard touchdown run made it 31-0 before Valencia’s Brandon Boateng returned the ensuing kickoff 96-yards for a touchdown. Boateng also scored on a five-yard pass from Erickson in the fourth quarter while Vikings placekicker Cameron Fontal made a 48-yard field goal late in the third quarter.