Football: Newport Harbor 42, Fountain Valley 25

It’s anybody’s league championship to win. That’s the good word throughout the Sunset League after Newport Harbor beat Fountain Valley and created a four-way tie for first place. The top three teams receive automatic playoff berths. This could get messy.

Score: Newport Harbor 42, Fountain Valley 25

Key Stats: Cole Norris passed for 236 yards and three touchdowns for Newport Harbor.

Pivotal Moment: At halftime, Coach Jeff Brinkley decided the Sailors’ running game was history and put the outcome in the hands of his quarterback.

Quotable: “I told Cole (Norris) we’re going to have to wing it,” Brinkley told the Orange County Register. “We’re going to have to win out. We’re happy with where we’re at. It’s not often you get a second chance.”

Records: Newport Harbor (4-4 in Sunset League, 2-1 overall), Fountain Valley (6-2, 2-1)

Notes: In addition to Newport and Fountain Valley, two other teams are tied for first place: Los Alamitos (7-1, 2-1) and Edison (5-3, 2-1). … Norris threw touchdown passes of 67, 21 and 10 yards. The first went to Quest Truxton, the other two to Cory Stowell. … Riley Gaddis rushed for only 33 yards, but he scored three times, on carries of 3, 5 and 14 yards. … 

• OC Top 10 and Patch's Vote

Fountain Valley led 17-10 at halftime but Newport scored 21 in the third quarter to take a 28-25 lead. … Scott Schultz passed for 236 yards and touchdowns of 57 to Ryan Finley, 4 to Isaiah Davis and 57 to Noah Rivard. … Jonah Mack kicked a 38-yard field goal for Fountain Valley. … Next week Newport plays Marina, and Fountain Valley plays Edison. … Among the four teams tied for first place, Newport appears to have the easiest remaining schedule. The Sailors close the season against Huntington Beach.