Finishing touches

Barry Faulkner

ALISO VIEJO - Host Aliso Niguel High is playing for its postseason

survival, but playoff-bound Newport Harbor has plenty at stake when the

two Sea View League football teams collide Friday at 7 p.m.

What is the motivation for the Sailors (8-0-1, 3-0 in league and ranked

No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division VI and Orange County)? Let Coach

Jeff Brinkley count the ways.

“No. 1, we always want to win,” Brinkley said.

“No. 2, we want to be the outright league champions and not share the

title (which could occur if the Sailors lose and Irvine defeats Woodbride

Friday).

“No. 3, we’ll get one of the top two seeds (in Division VI).

“No. 4, and probably most important, our kids can say they were only the

third Newport Harbor team to finish the regular season undefeated in 69

years.”

The Sailors come in well-rested, after a 42-0 nonleague decision over

Fairfax, in which most of the starters played barely more than one

quarter.

“We’re healthy and we should be well-rested,” Brinkley said. “And I think

our guys will be eager to play, since the starters didn’t get a whole lot

of playing time (against Fairfax).”

A Newport victory would clinch its 10th league title, its sixth outright

crown, and the second league championship in Brinkley’s 14-year tenure.

It could also make the Sailors the No. 1 seed in Division VI, should No.

3 La Mirada knock off No. 1 Mayfair in the Suburban League title showdown

Friday at Bellflower High. If Harbor does wind up with the top seed, its

potential path to the title game would likely not be obstructed by either

La Mirada or Tustin.

True to form, however, Brinkley won’t allow his players to get too

carried away with playoff projections. And, helping them maintain focus,

was Aliso’s convincing 49-29 thumping of Woodbridge last week.

“They went out and dominated (against Woodbridge, which Harbor topped,

28-0 the previous week), so we’ll certainly have our work cut out for

us,” Brinkley said.

The Wolverines (5-4, 1-2) are wrapping up their first Sea View campaign

after earning two league and one section championship (Division VIII in

1996) in four straight playoff appearances as members of the Pacific

Coast League.

They can not gain one of the league’s three guaranteed playoff spots

(even if they tie Laguna Hills for third place, they lost the

head-to-head meeting). But, a victory would give them a 6-4 record and a

solid shot at the division’s lone at-large berth.

Coach Joe Wood’s Wolverines, however, will need to thwart the consistent

improvement which has marked the Sailors’ Sea View run.

“We seem to be getting better every week and we’re right on pace to where

we want to be,” Brinkley said.

The Sailors have been dominating in the areas Brinkley covets domination:

running the ball and being able to stop the run.

Led by a veteran offensive line, tenacious and talented senior tailback

Andre Stewart has amassed 1,356 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 204

carries. In all, Harbor has produced 2,429 rushing yards.

Conversely, Harbor opponents have rushed for only 794 yards and are

averaging a mere 8.4 points per game. The latter ranks the Tars second in

Orange County in scoring defense.

When the Sailors aren’t running the ball, junior quarterback Chris

Manderino has completed 33 of 75 for 617 yards and nine TDs, with six

interceptions.

Helping Harbor dominate on defense, have been linebackers Alan Saenz,

Manderino and Mike Tunney, ends Nick Langsdorf and Garrett Troncale, nose

guard Andy Kalanz, safety Dayne Pfaff and cornerback Justin Jacobs.

Aliso’s offense also relies on the running game, keyed by senior tailback

Iman Nikzad. The 5-foot-9, 165-pounder had 351 yards and five TDs against

Woodbridge to push his season totals to 1,026 yards and 14 TDs.

Triggering the passing game is sophomore quarterback Joel Smith, while

senior end Tim Hefty (6-4, 200) and senior inside linebacker Dean

Gerasimou (6-0, 220) pace a defense which has surrendered an average of

24 points in three league contests.

It’s the first meeting between the two schools.