Drawing card

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - For the early part of the 1990s, the Newport Harbor

High football office was uncharted territory for most Division I college

recruiters.

A recent flurry of scholarship athletes, however, has increased demand

for Sailor game videotape among coaches at the next level. Danny Pulido

(Oregon after the ’96 prep campaign), Pete Hogan and Brett Baker

(Colorado State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, respectively, from the ’97

squad) and Brant Hill (Nevada last year), all impressed enough to find

big-time collegiate football homes.

But, Coach Jeff Brinkley believes, the interest generated by the

aforementioned standouts pales in comparison to the fervor over 6-foot-8,

245-pound senior offensive tackle Blair Jones.

Jones, an All-Newport-Mesa District selection in his second season as a

starter last fall, has already received scholarship offers from USC,

Michigan, Oregon, Cal and Colorado. UCLA is also among the approximately

40 schools which are openly coveting o7 SuperPrepf7 magazine’s No.

41-ranked All-Far West preseason prospect, spanning California, Hawaii

and Nevada.

“He’s the first blue-chip guy I’ve ever had at Newport (now 14 seasons)

who is being hustled by most of the schools across the country,” Brinkley

said. Everyone is interested in a guy who is 6-8 and athletic, because

they’re hard to find. You just don’t see kids his size, who are able to

move the way he does.”

Jones said if he hadn’t committed to a school before the Sailors’ first

practice, he’d wait till after the season. Since his future is still to

be determined, the Jones household, as well as the Tars’ office, figures

to sustain more traffic than a communal hall pay phone in a crowded

college dorm.

A few of Jones’ teammates, most notably 6-5, 195-pound receiver-safety

Billy Clayton, could garner recruiting interest, as well.

The careers of most Sailor seniors will fizzle to fruition this fall, but

Brinkley and his players are optimistic they can postpone the inevitable

at least into the postseason.

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the players who hope to help

the class of 2000 go out in a blaze of glory:

Quarterback: Brinkley was overseeing a multiple-player battle for the

job, before sophomore Brian Gaeta transferred from Edison early in the

summer to further cloud the picture.

Gaeta, who triggered the Edison freshmen last fall, emerged as a

front-runner, along with senior Chris Manderino.

Manderino led the junior varsity to an unbeaten season last year (9-0-1)

and is the consummate competitor and leader, according to his coach.

Gaeta’s progress was hampered by missing spring practice (he was still at

Edison), so he’ll need to learn the running game in a hurry after being

tutored on the passing game over the summer.

But Manderino’s defensive presence -- he’s slated to start at outside

linebacker -- could be the factor that allows Brinkley to favor Gaeta, at

least until game performance dictates otherwise.

“It will come down to who has the ability to move the football team,”

Brinkley said.

Clayton is another option here, though his value elsewhere will likely

render him an emergency fill-in.

Craig’s passing skills helped the freshmen to a 7-2-1 mark and he has

earned Brinkley’s confidence with his work in the spring and summer.

Junior Andy Rankin adds further depth.

Running backs: The buzz surrounding Andre Stewart’s projected stardom

began his freshmen season, but was muffled considerably by two years in

the wings, behind Brett Baker, then Robert Peredia.

The 5-9, 160-pounder could be ready for the spotlight, though fellow

senior Ryan Brill also figures to contribute, perhaps even upstage his

more heralded teammate.

“Stewart has matured and I think he’s ready for a good year,” said

Brinkley, who called Stewart’s number 69 times the last two seasons,

resulting in 182 yards and three touchdowns.

Brill (5-9, 185) carried 18 times for 47 yards last season and his

hard-nosed style and work ethic reminds Brinkley of Peredia, who hammered

away for 879 yards and scored 12 TDs en route to all-district and

second-team all-league recognition as a senior last season.

Brinkley is counting on junior Travis Trimble (6-0, 208) to seize the

starting nod at fullback. For this, he is entitled to one or two carries

per game in exchange for battering away as a lead blocker.

Senior Mike Tunney (5-10, 200) started two games at fullback last season,

but Brinkley would like him to concentrate his starting assignment at

outside linebacker.

Senior Andy Kalanz (5-9, 190) provides depth. He carried four times for

37 yards as a junior and could also be used at tailback if the need

arises.

Receivers: Clayton is more spectacular (averaging 19.4 yards on 25 catches, including two TDs), but fellow senior Justin Jacobs (6-0, 165)

is impressive as well. Jacobs had 21 catches for 248 yards and three TDs

as a junior.

“Billy is a great athlete with size and leaping ability,” Brinkley said.

“But Justin had the best summer of all our receivers. He’s got some

quickness, he’s a good route runner and he can throw in a little shake.”

Senior Chad Smith, a former quarterback, has a well-rounded understanding

of the passing game and was a pleasant surprise over the summer.

Senior Kelsey Peterson rounds out a solid quartet, while senior newcomer

Trevor Jones, a league champion hurdler, may also work into some playing

time.

Tight end: Senior Nick Langsdorf (6-4, 225) is one of five returning

starters on offense. He caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown,

but will become a more frequent target, according to Brinkley.

Senior Brad Craig (6-2, 195) and sophomore Joe Foley (6-0, 227), younger

brother of former Harbor and USC quarterback Shane Foley, are the

backups.

Offensive line: Jones is a monument at left tackle, while senior

returning starter Robert Cole (6-5, 325) is someone mothers hope their

children can avoid under Friday night lights. Cole has received mild

recruiting interest, but must show improvement to increase his collegiate

opportunities.

Senior Steve Wukawitz (6-2, 200) started four games at guard as a junior

and is back for a more lengthy run on the left side.

Senior Nick Haddy (6-3, 257) is the front-runner at right guard, while

senior Luis Cruz (5-11, 205) is being counted upon to fill the vacancy

left when all-district and all-league center Lance Chavez moved on to

Orange Coast College.

Junior Nick Moghaddam (6-3, 230), sophomore Bryan Breland (6-3, 248) and

sophomore Robert Chai (6-3, 240) provide depth at tackle.

Backing up at guard are senior Aaron Roberts and junior Ryan Devin, while

junior C.J. Collins adds depth at center.

Defensive line: Kalanz is projected to start at nose guard, where his

quickness and strength remind Brinkley of former All-CIF standout Bill

Johns.

“He really moves well and he has great leverage,” Brinkley said of the

converted linebacker.

Moghaddam “looks like the guy” at tackle, according to Brinkley, who saw

the sizable junior compete well on the junior varsity last fall.

Junior Garrett Troncale (6-0, 185) brings supreme quickness to one end

spot and Brad Craig, another converted linebacker, should start at the

other end.

“(Troncale) is the quickest defensive end we’ve ever had,” Brinkley said.

Breland, a dominant force for last year’s freshmen, is a backup end, as

is Langsdorf and senior Brad Rothwell, who could also play some at

outside linebacker.

Collins and Cruz add depth inside for a group that has virtually no

varsity experience.

“The front is our biggest question mark defensively,” Brinkley said. “But

we’re pretty quick and I like that.”

Brinkley said the wealth of quickness may prompt more stunting and

attacking up front.

Linebackers: Junior Alan Saenz (6-1, 250) is gargantuan by Harbor

linebacker standards and proved on the JV level he knows how to throw

that weight around.

“He had a couple hits in JV games which were as hard as any we had all

year,” Brinkley said. “He lit some guys up and we think he can be a

really good middle linebacker.”

Tunney started two games in the middle as a junior, but will shift

outside, where he pairs with Manderino.

“We think both those (outside) guys have pretty good size and they’re

very athletic,” Brinkley said. “They play well in space and they’ll hit

ya.”

Rankin can back up either outside spot and Foley, who stuffed opposing

freshmen offenses from the middle last season, is behind Saenz. Tunney

could also play in the middle.

Secondary: Clayton, the only returner to have started every game on

defense, had five interceptions at strong safety.

Jacobs, who started twice at corner, assumes a full-time role, as does

Stewart at the other corner.

Either senior Dayne Pfaff or Peterson will start at strong safety.

Peterson started there eight games last fall, while Pfaff started twice

at corner.

Kicking game: Chris Bargas, who assumed the place-kicking chores from

decorated senior Eddie Johnson last fall, returns. He’ll get the huge

challenge of trying to replace Johnson, a three-time all-district and

all-league performer who averaged 42.3 yards en route to all-state

recognition last fall, at punter.

Bargas, however, is getting stiff competition for place-kicking

responsibility from sophomore Adam Kerns, the MVP of the freshmen last

fall as a receiver and defensive back.

Jacobs is slated to return punts, but Peterson and Jones could also help

out.

Kickoffs returners have yet to be identified, but Stewart, Jacobs and

even Clayton are among the candidates.

Smith is the long-snapper, and the holder has yet to be determined.