Newport Harbor football rallies past Tesoro with field goal in final seconds
Senior Jon Richardson boots a game-winning, 36-yard field goal as the host Sailors score 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
Newport Harbor’s Josiah Lamarque (8) heads for the end zone with Newport Harbor’s first touchdown during a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
NEWPORT BEACH — Tesoro’s football team wanted to continue its winning ways. Newport Harbor wanted to correct mistakes and claim its first triumph of the young season.
Only one squad was going to be happy Thursday in the second all-time meeting between the schools.
Tesoro’s Landon Anderson pulls down Newport Harbor’s Jordan Anderson (0) during the second half of a nonleague football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s Tyler Thompson (55) signals the first touchdown of the game halfway through the third quarter during a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Newport Harbor’s defense piles up on Tesoro’s Travis Wood (24) during the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s Travis Wood (24) goes in fro Tesoro’s second touchdown during the second half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s Cash O’Byrne (4) looks down field during the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Newport Harbor’s Jagger Blauwkamp (5) turns up field during the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s Todd Nelson (18) takes off with a first down reception during the second half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Newport Harbor’s Jaden O’Neal (1) scrambles and ;ooks for a receiver during the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s Travis Wood (24) drags Newport Harbor defenders with him for a first down during the second half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Newport Harbor’s Josiah Lamarque (8) gets pinched between Tesoro’s Camden Reese (12) and Justin Gutierrez (11) during the second half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s Travis Wood (24) runs for a first down during the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s Cash O’Byrne (4) escapes the grasp of two of Newport Harbor’s defenders during the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Newport Harbor’s Jaden O’Neal (1) barely escapes the grasp of Tesoro’s Alex Zeppos (89) during the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s Camden Reese (12) has his pass broken up by Newport Harbor’s Gabriel Hendriks (24) during the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Newport Harbor’s Josiah Lamarque (8) heads for the end zone with Newport Harbor’s first touchdown during a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s head coach Matt Poston before the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Fans photograph Newport Harbor’s team as they come on the field before a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Newport Harbor’s head coach Peter Lofthouse during the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s head coach Matt Poston before the first half of a non-league football game at Newport Harbor High between Newport Harbor High and Tesoro High on August 24, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Kicker Jon Richardson made sure the Sailors celebrated a comeback victory.
The senior booted a 36-yard field goal with nine seconds left in regulation to lift host Newport Harbor to a 17-14 victory.
Richardson converted the kick after Tesoro (1-1) called a timeout, and he helped the Sailors (1-1) bounce back from a 24-22 loss in their season-opener at St. Paul last week.
Newport Harbor, ranked 15th in Orange County, rallied by scoring 17 unanswered points in the final eight minutes against No. 16 Tesoro.
“This was one of those games we needed to win to get the momentum back,” said Sailors wide receiver/cornerback Josiah Lamarque, who caught two touchdowns.
“We had a really down week. We kind of beat ourselves up for the St. Paul loss but we came back and we took over this game. Just super, super excited.”
Newport Harbor’s offense came alive in the fourth quarter behind quarterback Jaden O’Neal and wide receivers Lamarque and Jordan Anderson.
After Tesoro took a 14-0 lead on a 3-yard TD run by Travis Wood with 10:24 left in the fourth quarter, Newport Harbor’s pass attack started to roll.
O’Neal, a sophomore, capped a swift, 76-yard drive with a 55-yard touchdown pass to Lamarque, who took a short crossing route and outraced defenders to the end zone with 7:54 left.
Newport Harbor’s defense held on the ensuing possession to give the ball back to O’Neal. The transfer from Los Alamitos capped the 73-yard scoring drive with a 28-yard TD pass to Lamarque, who broke free on a double move.
Great TD throw here by Newport Harbor QB Jaden O'Neal, soph. definitely took a big step tonight in rallying past Tesoro And Josiah Lamarque is one of the best WRs in OC, excellent burst and he's just been a playmaker for a few years now @Jadenoneal_26@JosiahLamarque@ocvarsitypic.twitter.com/BFccn5IODK
The drive was sparked by O’Neal’s 45-yard completion on a deep pass to Anderson. The Oregon committed wide receiver finished with eight catches for 98 yards.
O’Neal completed 16 of 26 passes for a career-high 272 yards while Lamarque tallied five catches for 129 yards. He also rushed for 33 yards at running back.
“I see a lot of maturity,” Lamarque said of O’Neal. “This was a really big game for him.”
Newport Harbor struggled with turnovers and defensive miscues last week but showed improvement in the fourth quarter.
“We’ll build off of it,” Newport Harbor coach Peter Lofthouse said of the victory. “By no means have we untapped our potential. If we can really build off that last quarter on offense, we’ll start putting up more points, more yards.”
Richardson was a bright spot against St. Paul with three field goals.
Wood, an Air Force commit, rushed for 175 yards on 34 yards and two scores.
The senior scored on a 1-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal in the third quarter by taking a direct snap to break the scoreless tie with 5:16 left in the period.
The defenses dominated in a scoreless first half.
Tesoro forced a pair of fumbles but failed to capitalize on offense.
The Titans also missed a 38-yard field goal that loomed in the final moments.
Tesoro cornerback Carson Cervantes recovered the second fumble for the Titans at his 24-yard line with 1:30 left in the opening half to help stop one of Newport Harbor’s most promising drives.
The Titans’ defense also received a sack and tackle for loss from defensive end Alex Zeppos.
Newport Harbor’s defense recorded four sacks in the first two quarters. Defensive end Jimmy Lavin, also the long snapper on the winning field goal, collected two sacks. Cam Denoon and Jacob Carlon each added one.
Next week, Tesoro plays its first home game by playing host to Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 1. Newport Harbor plays host to La Habra on Sept. 1.
