Newport Harbor Routs El Modena in Playoff Opener
Jordan Spigarelli threw three touchdowns as Newport Harbor beat El Modena 28-7 in a CIF-SS Division 3 first-round game.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
Newport Harbor defeated El Modena 28-7 in a CIF-SS Division 3 first-round playoff game on Friday, November 6, 2026. The win advances the Sailors to the quarterfinals next week against the Villa Park-Apple Valley winner.
Why it matters
The victory marked Newport Harbor's first playoff win under third-year coach Matthew Burns and its seventh straight game without a loss. It also came after the team won its first outright league title since 2004 and beat El Modena for the first time in four meetings between the programs.
Jordan Spigarelli passed for 278 yards and three touchdowns, bringing his season total to 32 touchdown passes, while Jackson Stremick caught two touchdowns and Ryder Godbold recorded two sacks. El Modena was ranked No. 15 in Orange County and Newport Harbor was ranked No. 21 entering the matchup.
The players
Newport Harbor High School
Newport Harbor is a public high school in Newport Beach, California, whose football program competes in the CIF Southern Section.
Matthew Burns
Matthew Burns is the third-year head football coach at Newport Harbor High School.
Jordan Spigarelli
Jordan Spigarelli is the Newport Harbor quarterback who threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns in the playoff win.
El Modena High School
El Modena High School is a public high school in Orange, California, whose football team finished the regular season 9-2 and was ranked No. 15 in Orange County.
The details
Spigarelli threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Stremick to put Newport Harbor ahead 28-7 in the fourth quarter. Shane McKibbin intercepted a pass near midfield on a double-pass, setting up a second Spigarelli-to-Stremick touchdown, and the Newport Harbor defense made two key stops on fourth down.
Timeline
2004: Newport Harbor last won an outright league title before this season.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Newport Harbor defeated El Modena in the CIF-SS Division 3 first-round playoff game.
Next week: Newport Harbor plays the Villa Park-Apple Valley winner in the quarterfinals.
Season Trajectory
Newport Harbor's first outright league title since 2004 and its seven-game winning streak place the Sailors among the stronger Orange County programs entering the postseason. The playoff win sets up a quarterfinal matchup that will determine whether the team can extend its run deeper into the CIF-SS bracket.
Fantasy managers tracking Jordan Spigarelli and Jackson Stremick will see the quarterback's 278-yard, three-touchdown output and the receiver's two scores as the key numbers from this game. Newport Harbor's quarterfinal next week will determine whether those playing-time and production trends carry into the next round.
The takeaway
Newport Harbor's ability to win a playoff game on the strength of its passing game and defensive stops is a useful signal for readers following Orange County high school football. The next test comes against the Villa Park-Apple Valley winner.
What happens next
Newport Harbor plays the Villa Park-Apple Valley winner in the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals next week.
Further reading
For more local coverage, see our Football section.
