Newport Harbor quarterback AJ Guitron-Moore throws a pass in the Sailors playoff game vs. Sunny Hills. (Photo courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).
Newport Harbor’s football team, after getting second life in post-season play, has made the most of it advancing to the semifinal round of the CIF Division 6 playoffs.
The Sailors (5-7 overall) will host Dominguez (10-2) Friday night at 7 at Davidson Field. The winner moves on to face the winner of the other semifinal between Temecula Valley and Camarillo in the championship game either Nov. 26 or Nov. 27.
Newport Harbor, led by quarterback AJ Guitron-Moore (three touchdown passes) opened the playoffs with a 38-28 victory over Sunny Hills, then defeated Santa Barbara 49-14 last weekend in the quarterfinal round in Santa Barbara.
The last time Newport Harbor reached the CIF finals was in 2013, when the Sailors lost to Huntington Beach 42-28 in the Southwest Division title game at Angel Stadium.
Newport Harbor’s last CIF title came in 2005 when the Sailors, coached by Jeff Brinkley, defeated Valencia of Placentia 28-21 in the CIF Division VI title game, according to Coach Peter Lofthouse, now in his fourth season as head coach.
Newport Harbor finished fourth in the Sunset League with a 2-3 record.
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