Sailors impressive against Diablos

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - When the closest thing to an injury occurs as the

head coach is nearly upended by an opposing player driven backward 15

yards behind the line, a preseason football scrimmage can be termed a

genuine success.

For Newport Harbor High and Coach Jeff Brinkley, this would have been

enough Friday against visiting Mission Viejo. But there was much, much

more to feel good about on the Sailor sideline, including a prolific

passing display and some smothering defense.

Three Sailor quarterbacks launched 18 passes in the controlled format, in

which the two schools alternated 10-play possessions from various points

on the field. Brian Gaeta, Chris Manderino and Morgan Craig combined for

13 completions and no less than five touchdowns.

Gaeta opened things up by lofting a perfect strike to Justin Jacobs for a

60-yard pump-and-go on the Sailors’ third play. The sophomore Edison High

transfer finished 5 of 8 for 111 yards and three TDs. He was intercepted

once when his own retreating blocker threw off his footwork.

Manderino, who was among those sparkling defensively at outside

linebacker, connected on 5 of 7 pass attempts for 106 yards and one TD.

His only incompletions were balls thrown on the money, but dropped.

Sophomore Morgan Craig, running the second team’s lone 10-play

possession, connected on all three of his throws, including a 40-yard TD

created on a nice run after the catch by junior wideout Mitch Gray.

Jacobs amassed 175 yards on three catches, including two TDs of 60 yards

and another of 20. Eight different Sailors had receptions. Kelsey

Peterson had the other TD catch.

Senior tailback Andre Stewart had a 60-yard scoring run and finished with

75 yards and two TDs in 12 rushing attempts.

In all, the Tars scored eight touchdowns, including three from their own

40-yard line, one from the Diablos’ 40, one from the Mission 20, and

three on goal-line situations from the 10, 2 and 1.

Mission Viejo, with former El Toro head coach Bob Johnson at the

controls, scored both its touchdowns on goal-line situations from the

Harbor 2.

“We escaped healthy, which was my No. 1 goal,” the clearly satisfied

Brinkley said. “We did some pretty good things, but I told the kids we’d

have to watch the film before we got too excited.”

Brinkley was impressed by all his quarterbacks, stating he would probably

assign playing time to both Gaeta and Manderino in the season opener

Thursday against Orange at El Modena High.

“I liked the way we were able to throw the ball vertically down the field

and get some big plays,” Brinkley said.

Brinkley was also pleased with his defense, spearheaded by Manderino,

outside linebacker Mike Tunney, senior nose guard Andy Kalanz, Jacobs at

corner, and several others.

Manderino applied blanket coverage on three pass attempts in the flat,

nearly intercepting one. He also added a sack.

Kalanz made two of the Sailors’ 12 tackles for losses, Jacobs broke up

two passes in the end zone, and outside linebacker Travis Trimble made a

couple big hits with the second unit, forcing a fumble on another tackle.

Billy Clayton, a senior third-year starter at safety expected to also

start at receiver, sat out the scrimmage with a migraine.

Senior Brad Craig, projected to start at defensive end, was also

unavailable due to a pinched nerve.