Stepping out

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High and Irvine share a rich

tradition of football success in the 1990s, combining for six CIF

Southern Section championship-game appearances and four CIF titles.

But it might surprise more than a few to learn the last time either won a

Sea View League opener was 1994.

The Sailors (4-0-1, ranked No. 4 in Orange County and No. 2 in CIF

Division VI) and Vaqueros (3-1-1 and No. 5 in Division VI) will be trying

to erase this recent trend of league-opening futility when they square

off Friday at 7:30 at Newport Harbor.

Newport, which has lost its last four Sea View debuts, comes off an

impressive preleague campaign, in which it outscored opponents, 194-56.

Those opponents, however, posted a combined 5-19-1 record, bringing

recollections of last fall, when the Tars entered league play as the

division’s top-ranked team, after outscoring preleague foes, 227-56, only

to go 1-4 in league and miss the playoffs for just the second time in a

decade.

Irvine, which shared the league title last fall with Division VI champion

Woodbridge after tying the Warriors to kick off league play, has played

five teams all expected to make the playoffs. It’s only loss was a 33-14

setback to Mater Dei and its tie came against unbeaten South Torrance,

the No. 1 team in Division X. Irvine’s preleague foes have gone 15-9-1.

Polls aside, Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley acknowledges his team’s

underdog role.

“We run into a buzz saw this week,” Brinkley said. “Irvine is the best

team we’ve played to date, no doubt about it. But it’s good for us to go

in and play a team like this. They’re the defending champs and they

played a really tough preseason schedule, so it’s a great challenge for

our kids. We’re looking forward to it.”

The Tars can look forward to a typically disciplined and talented Vaquero

squad, which for the second straight year received its offensive catalyst

via transfer.

Keith Short, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior, was an All-CIF Division XI

cornerback last fall at Calvary Chapel. Short, who has committed verbally

to continue at UCLA, still sparkles defensively (three interceptions),

but is also Coach Terry Henigan’s leading ballcarrier (436 yards on 65

carries).

“He’s their go-to guy, he has good quickness, vision and he’s very

explosive,” Brinkley said. “He’s taken their offense to the next level,

just like their quarterback (Sean Van de Merghel) did last year.”

Replacing Van de Merghel at quarterback has been 5-8, 160-pound senior Mike Ricci. He has completed 43 of 80 for 516 yards and five touchdowns,

with three interceptions.

Irvine, 0-4-1 in its last five league debuts, will face a Harbor team

which has amassed nearly 80% of its 1,960 offensive yards on the ground.

Senior tailbacks Andre Stewart (721 yards and 13 touchdowns on 100

carries) and Ryan Brill (411 yards on 56 attempts) have found ample room

behind a veteran offensive front.

“We thought, coming in, our line was the strength of our offense and that

has proven out,” Brinkley said.

Tackles Blair Jones and Robert Cole, guards Nick Haddy and Steve

Wukawitz, center Luis Cruz and tight end Nick Langsdorf will try to

handle an Irvine defense allowing just 13.6 points per game.

The Sailors passing game, triggered by junior quarterback Chris

Manderino, should be bolstered by the return of senior receiver Billy

Clayton, who has sat out the last three games with a thigh bruise.

Manderino has completed 19 of 44 for 357 yards and five touchdowns, with

three interceptions.

Senior Justin Jacobs has been the leading receiver with 13 catches for

273 yards and three TDs.

Defensively, Harbor welcomes senior outside linebacker Mike Tunney and

junior end Garrett Troncale back to the starting lineup. Both have missed

two games with ankle and knee problems, respectively.

Irvine overcame a five-point halftime deficit to earn a 34-15 victory

over the Tars in last year’s regular-season finale, which evened the

series, 6-6.