NEWPORT BEACH — Underclassmen for both teams made big contributions in Newport Harbor’s 24-23 season-opening football victory over Yorba Linda on Friday at Newport Harbor High School.
Freshman Josiah Lamaque had seven receptions for 159 yards and a 76 yard touchdown and sophomore Kashton Henjum had 12 catches for 129 yards and two touchdown for the Sailors (1-0).
“He’s a special one,” Sailors coach Peter Lofthouse said of Lamaque. “He made some huge explosive plays when we needed them. Both players came up huge when we needed them.”
The pair accounted for all three touchdowns for the Sailors.
Newport Harbor junior quarterback Nic Kim faced pressure throughout the game but still completed 26 of 38 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns.
“He made some beautiful throws, getting blitzed and hit in the face,” Lofthouse said.
Kim had more than 200 yards by halftime.
The numbers put up by Kim overshadowed a fine effort from Yorba Linda quarterback Reyen Beal, who completed 18 of 23 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown
The Sailors led 7-0 before the Mustangs (0-1) scored on consecutive drives to take a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
But after William Payne’s 36-yard touchdown catch and Ethan Pocci’s 33-yard run put the Mustangs ahead, the Sailors snatched the lead and the momentum back when Kim hit Lamarque in stride along the right sideline for the 76-yard score.
Jayden Flaig’s 30-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the first half gave the Mustangs a 17-14 lead.
The Mustangs hurt themselves by committing two turnovers.
The first was a fumble on the Newport Harbor 32 that was recovered by Chris Jover for the Sailors.
After the Sailors took a one-point lead on Henjum’s 8-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs got the ball back with more than four minutes remaining.
The Mustangs faced a fourth-and-3 from their 46 when an interception by Carson de Avila gave the Sailors the ball back.
There was still 3:08 left when the Sailors took over on the Yorba Linda 43, but Newport Harbor gained two first downs and was able to run out the clock.
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