GAME RECAP: Spigarelli Throws Six Touchdowns in Newport Harbor’s 56-7 Rout of Aliso Niguel

By Justin Tatsuki Lee

ALISO VIEJO, CA — Jordan Spigarelli and the Newport Harbor Sailors turned a short night into a statement, rolling past Aliso Niguel 56-7 on Friday to improve to 6-2 overall and 3-0 in the Epsilon League.

With Shane McKibbon unavailable, Spigarelli still had answers. The senior quarterback finished 17-of-19 for 335 yards and six touchdowns, more scores than incompletions, as the Sailors scored on nearly every meaningful possession in the first half.

Newport Harbor took the opening kickoff and immediately went to work. Jackson Stremick returned the kick near midfield, and a facemask penalty gave the Sailors prime field position. A 25-plus-yard catch by Parker Stringham moved the ball inside the red zone, and Pepe Tena finished the drive with a 5-yard plunge up the middle for the early lead.

Aliso Niguel’s response was short-lived. Ford Robinson’s kickoff forced a muffed return, pinning the Wolverines at their own 9. Ryan Palmer broke up a pass from Aiden Sidenstecker, and Aliso punted.

Spigarelli needed only one play on the next drive. He hit Stremick for a 49-yard gain down to the 1, and Owen Baldikowski caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. The Sailors had used less than a minute of offensive clock and led 14-0.

Aliso went three-and-out. Newport answered again when Palmer took a screen 35 yards for a touchdown, Spigarelli’s third passing score of the quarter. It was 21-0 after one.

The Wolverines finally crossed midfield early in the second quarter, helped by a roughing-the-passer penalty, but Stremick intercepted Sidenstecker to give the ball back at the Newport 18. After a short Sailors drive that stalled, Aliso started at the Newport 44 and capitalized. A 33-yard completion to Andoni Galpin plus a pass-interference penalty set up Devin Williams for a 4-yard rushing touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-7.

Newport responded quickly. Pass interference put the Sailors in Aliso territory, Spigarelli found Palmer for a 32-yard gain inside the 10, and Stringham scored on a 7-yard screen. After Aliso went three-and-out (Stremick added a tackle for loss), Stremick’s return set Newport up at the Aliso 23. A short catch, a sack, and another Stremick reception set up Palmer’s 10-yard touchdown on a flat route. Spigarelli had his fourth touchdown pass of the half.

A block in the back pushed Aliso back to its own 5. The Wolverines moved the ball but punted. Newport went to hurry-up, Stringham made a pair of catches (one for 22 yards), and Stremick walked into the end zone on a 20-yard touchdown reception. The Sailors led 42-7 at halftime after another roughly one-minute drive.

The second half stayed one-sided. Spigarelli hit Palmer on a 62-yard post route for another touchdown, giving the senior receiver three scores on the night (four catches, 140 yards). Newport added one more touchdown in the third quarter to reach 56-7, then closed out the game without further scoring. Stremick contributed in all three phases with a long kick return, a punt return, an interception, a tackle for loss, and a receiving touchdown.

Palmer filled the void left by McKibbon and finished as one of Spigarelli’s most reliable targets. Stringham added five catches for 86 yards and a score. Tena led the ground game with 10 carries for 41 yards and the early touchdown.

Newport Harbor’s offense finished with 435 total yards (346 passing). Aliso Niguel managed just one score and spent much of the night pinned deep or forced into three-and-outs.

The Sailors return home Thursday for Senior Night against Brea Olinda at Davidson Field. Aliso Niguel falls to 2-6 and will look to regroup against Trabuco Hills.