Tough one for Tars

LONG BEACH — Long Beach Poly High Coach Raul Lara referred to Newport Harbor’s high-scoring machine as that No. 6 kid.

JB Green scored four times in four ways last week.

The Jackrabbits made sure No. 6 never scored six, or for that matter the Sailors.

For the third time in a little more than a 12-month span, Newport Harbor simply was no challenge for Long Beach Poly’s defense, losing 26-2 Friday night.

Three weeks is how much time the Jackrabbits, ranked No. 2 in the state by CalHiSports.com, prepared for their home debut at Veterans Stadium.

No rust. They just dusted the opposition for the second time.

The only thing Long Beach Poly gave up to Newport Harbor was the opportunity to use the home sideline.

The rest of the field belonged to the Jackrabbits (2-0), ranked No. 7 in the country by ESPNRise.com.

The defense shut down a Newport Harbor offense coming off a 58-7 season-opening victory against Aliso Niguel.

Only five times did the Sailors (1-1) earn a first down, one of those on a penalty.

Heading into the third quarter, trailing 20-0, Newport Harbor desperately needed to move the ball. Its defense spent most of the first 24 minutes on the field trying to slow down Long Beach Poly’s ground attack featuring seniors Melvin Richardson and Daveon Barner.

The Sailors moved the chains only once in the second half. At the end, they turned the ball over in the air twice and on downs twice.

Long Beach Poly, the defending CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division champion, is so stout and fast on defense that even the Jackrabbits own offense struggles during practice. That’s been the case the last three weeks after opening the season with a 29-7 victory at Northwestern of Miami, Fla., last year’s nationally top-ranked team.

“I hate practicing against them, because we cannot accomplish nothing,” Lara said. “I literally have to separate my offense from the defense, so we can even get a good look. They were whooping our butts and I’m being nice here.”

Richardson was glad to run against another unit, especially Newport Harbor.

He continued to excel against the Sailors, rushing for 166 yards and two scores on 14 carries. In three games against Newport Harbor, Richardson’s gained 427 yards and five touchdowns.

“As soon as I come in the game, I want to just give everybody a show up there in the stadium,” said Richardson, who’s being recruited by LSU, Colorado and Arizona.

On his first carry in the second quarter, Richardson electrified the crowd. He took a handoff, ran left and down the Long Beach Poly sideline for a 68-yard touchdown.

Last week it was the Sailors making the big plays, scoring on a 51-yard punt return, a 77-yard kickoff return, and two blocked punts.

Their longest offensive gain against the Jackrabbits was a 23-yard screen pass from Andrew McDonald to Michael Helfrich that put Newport Harbor on the opposition’s five with less than a minute left before halftime.

The offense got inside the one. But on fourth-and-goal, McDonald was turned away by a swarm of defenders on a sneak.

Nineteen seconds remained before the break. The damage was done, as it was the second time in the second quarter the Sailors turned the ball over on downs inside Long Beach Poly’s 25.

“That probably would’ve been a big momentum swing,” said Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley, adding that he thought about handing the ball to a running back until the defense changed its alignment. “We were really on the six-inch line.”

They’ll try to gain more next week against crosstown rival Corona del Mar (3-0).

Unable to run the ball, finishing with six yards on 13 attempts, McDonald threw under constant pressure.

The line protected the senior better than in the previous two meetings against the Jackrabbits, who sacked McDonald a total of 12 times. Twice Long Beach sacked McDonald, who finished 10 for 15 passing with 108 yards.

Newport Harbor’s points came on special teams in the third quarter. This time not on a blocked punt.

A long snap sailed over punter David Skara’s head and into the end zone. What stood out more than his neon cleats was Skara pushing the ball behind the back of the end zone for a safety. The Sailors got on the scoreboard. They needed more. They needed six, No. 6. They got zero.

“Just make everybody aware of No. 6,” said Lara of the plan to stop Green, who finished with five catches for 34 yards. “Where is he at?”

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