Looking back on ‘98: 14 days in October

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - The promise of yet another sterling Newport Harbor

High football season turned sour in the span of just 14 days last fall.

It was, indeed, a fortnight without good fortune, as Sea View League

losses to Corona del Mar, Woodbridge and Santa Margarita, effectively

prevented the Sailors from advancing to the postseason for only the

second time in 10 seasons.

The campaign began with the biggest single-game scoring output in school

history -- a 70-8 triumph over Orange -- and continued with a perfect 5-0

record through the preleague season.

Heading into the Sea View debut against the Back Bay rival Sea Kings,

Coach Jeff Brinkley’s squad was ranked No. 5 in Orange County and No. 1

in CIF Southern Section Division VI.

CdM, however, surprised the Tars with a 28-18 victory and eventual

Division VI champion Woodbridge escaped with a 10-7 win the following

week.

Two-time defending Sea View and CIF division champion Santa Margarita

handled Newport, 38-14, the following week and realistic playoff hopes

faded like a morning marine layer.

“I think we all walked away a little disappointed,” Brinkley said. “We

had high expectations and didn’t make the playoffs. If we’d have won one

more game, I think we’d have made the playoffs and it would have been

another typical year for us. The first league game against CdM is the one

that crushed us.”

Despite the disappointing 1-4 league finish, which left them with a 6-4

record, several Sailors earned individual distinction.

Senior punter Eddie Johnson was all-state, All-CIF, All-Newport-Mesa

District and all-league, while senior linemen Brant Hill and Lance

Chavez, as well as junior two-way standout Billy Clayton, were

all-district and first-team All-Sea View honorees.

Hill, who earned a scholarship from the University of Nevada, played in

the Orange County All-Star Game for the victorious South.

Seniors Robert Peredia and Cooper Wise were all-district and second-team

all-league.

Seniors Lamar Lee, Steve Gorman and Oscar Garcia, as well as junior Blair

Jones, were all-district selections, while senior Shawn O’Donnell was a

second-team all-league choice.

Brinkley also reached a milestone, winning his 100th game at the school

with a Week 2 triumph over Marina.