First things first

Barry Faulkner

MISSION VIEJO - For about the same amount of time it takes his

Newport Harbor High football team to complete one of its frequent

victories, Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley allows himself to celebrate. He

expects similar restraint from his players.

So, Brinkley is confident the Tars (5-0-1, 1-0 in the Sea View League,

ranked No. 3 in Orange County and No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division

VI) will have no letdown for Friday’s 7:30 p.m. Sea View showdown with

Laguna Hills (4-2, 1-0) at Mission Viejo High.

“By the time I drove home (after last week’s 12-10 league-opening triumph

over powerful Irvine), I was thinking about Laguna Hills,” Brinkley said.

“I think our kids will keep last week’s game in perspective, because we

don’t allow them to get too excited. We need to keep plugging away until

we’re where we want to be.”

Where the Sailors want to be is atop the final Sea View standings, which

would mean the fifth outright league title in the school’s 69-season

history. And to get there, they can’t allow themselves any detours,

particularly against a Hawks squad coming off an impressive Sea View

debut of its own.

Laguna Hills, which won all but one of its final 25 Pacific Coast League

games on the field (an ineligible player prompted three league forfeits

last year, which cost them the crown and a trip to the playoffs),

introduced itself to Sea View competition with a 20-15 win over reigning

CIF Division VI champion Woodbridge.

“Beating Woodbridge was certainly a big win for their program,” Brinkley

said. “They have a good football team and it’s going to be a great game.”

The Hawks, who have two Southern Section championships this decade, have

traditionally overpowered opponents with a strong running game. But,

without a marquee tailback, second-year coach Bruce Ingalls has opened

things up to feature senior quarterback Brandon Champlin.

“They throw the ball more than any team in our league,” Brinkley said.

“We saw (Champlin) on film last year against El Toro, so we knew he was a

very talented guy.”

A first-team All-PCL choice last fall, Champlin has thrown for 1,037

yards and 10 touchdowns, completing 65 of 135 with seven interceptions.

Including last season, he has amassed 2,391 passing yards and 25 TDs as

the varsity starter.

Champlin’s favorite target is senior Jay Dale, who has 25 receptions for

393 yards.

For the first time in seven seasons, Laguna Hills will most likely not

have a 1,000-yard rusher, since leading ground gainers Ajay Allen and

Ryan Capdeville are currently hovering around the 200-yard mark.

Newport has had little need for the pass, as an all-senior offensive line

and talented backs have rolled up nearly 278 rushing yards per game.

Senior Andre Stewart has 843 yards and 15 touchdowns on 131 carries,

operating behind tackles Blair Jones and Robert Cole, guards Steve

Wukawitz and Nick Haddy, center Luis Cruz and tight end Nick Langsdorf.

When the Sailors do throw, junior Chris Manderino has completed 23 of 53

for 404 yards and five TDs.

Justin Jacobs, with 15 catches for 309 yards, is the leading receiver.

Harbor’s defense, spearheaded by middle linebacker Alan Saenz, outside

‘backer Manderino, cornerbacks Jacobs and Stewart and nose guard Andy

Kalanz, has surrendered only 497 passing yards this season. The Sailors’

nine interceptions have helped them build a plus-five turnover ratio.

The Hawks are led defensively by 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior tackle Norris

Dixon, who was a second-team all-league pick as a junior.

Laguna Hills senior Brandon Lamas, the PCL Defensive Player of the Year

last fall, has been lost for the season with a knee injury.

The winner of the first meeting between the two schools will have sole

possession of first place.