Tift Reaches End Zone for Newport Harbor

NEWPORT BEACH —  It took Newport Harbor’s Wade Tift 610 yards to score a touchdown this season.

Tift broke a season-long scoring drought, rushing for two touchdowns and 167 yards to lead Newport Harbor to an 18-6 Sea View League football victory over Woodbridge Friday night at Newport Harbor High.

With the victory, Newport Harbor (6-2, 3-2 in league) moved into sole possession of third place in the Sea View League.

Tift, a junior, came into the game with 556 yards rushing but no touchdowns. That changed late in the second quarter.

After Doug Stuckey kicked a 32-yard field goal to give Newport Harbor a 3-0 lead with 7 minutes 1 second remaining in the second quarter, Tift broke loose on the next possession.

Tift took the handoff from quarterback Gregg Williams on a draw, broke to his left and bounced outside the line and sprinted 50 yards for his first score.

Chad La Bass turned a bad snap into a two-point conversion for the Sailors, running around right end for an 11-0 lead.

On the first drive of the third quarter, Tift raced 57-yards for a touchdown on another draw play, capping a seven-play, 84-yard drive to give Newport Harbor an 18-0 lead.

After Woodbridge (1-6-1, 0-4-1) stuffed Newport Harbor’s running game in a 27-10 victory last year, Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley threw another game plan at Woodbridge.

“They packed it in pretty good last year, so we knew we had to loosen them up,” Brinkley said.

Williams completed four passes on Newport Harbor’s first drive, and although they were short passes, they served their purpose.