First impressions

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - It took 43 seasons for the Newport Harbor High

football program to win a CIF Southern Section first-round playoff game,

but the Sailors appear to have mastered the task since.

The Sailors (9-0-1 and seeded No. 2) open the Division VI tournament

Friday at 7:30 p.m. against visiting El Dorado (6-4) attempting to win

the 17th playoff opener in their last 18 tries, dating back to 1973.

The Tars’ only opening-round elimination during that run came in 1993

against Glendora. A similar fate, however, is not likely for Coach Jeff

Brinkley’s Sea View League champions, who polished off the third unbeaten

regular season in the school’s 69-year history last week.

El Dorado which won its last two to snap a four-game losing streak and

snag the Empire League’s third-place berth, has lost in the first round

each of the last four years.

Coach Rick Jones’ Golden Hawks, who have made the playoffs six of the

last seven campaigns, face a strong challenge from Brinkley’s boys.

“They’re a great football team,” Jones said. “They have a lot of weapons,

they’re good offensively and defensively, and they’re well coached. We

know it’s going to be a battle.”

The Golden Hawks who have wins over playoff teams La Habra and Canyon,

advanced to the postseason despite being outscored, 165-157. Four of their losses are to playoff teams.

El Dorado has primarily featured a run-oriented offense. Senior running

back Nick Zehner is the leading ground gainer with 850 yards and 11

touchdowns on 150 carries. But an injured shin has limited his playing

time lately and Jones said he was unsure if Zehner would be 100% by

kickoff.

Roger Guydon has stepped up in Zehner’s recent absence. He gained 148

yards on 17 attempts, caught two passes for 28 more and scored three TDs

in last week’s 36-14 conquest of Century.

Brian Zurhellen, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior who also place-kicks, is

the quarterback. He has completed 63 of 152 for 780 yards and three

touchdowns with nine interceptions.

Senior two-way tackle Macky Bluth (6-4, 285) anchors the line for the

Golden Hawks. He is being recruited by Oregon and Arizona State, Jones

said.

Newport’s offensive “weapons” of which Jones spoke, are led by senior

tailback Andre Stewart. The 5-9, 160-pound senior has rushed for 1,542

yards on 236 carries and scored 19 touchdowns. He has topped the 100-yard

mark in all but one game this fall, which is a school record.

Junior Chris Manderino has completed 41 of 87 passes for 762 yards and 11

touchdowns, with seven interceptions.

Senior receivers Justin Jacobs (18 catches for 357 yards) and Billy

Clayton (14 for 245) are Manderino’s favorite targets. Clayton, who

missed nearly four games with a thigh injury, has six touchdowns, while

Jacobs has five.

The Sailors are averaging nearly 32 points per game, while allowing only

83, the fewest in Orange County.

The defense consists of linebackers Alan Saenz, Mike Tunney and

Manderino, ends Garrett Troncale and Nick Langsdorf, nose guard Andy

Kalanz, tackle Nick Moghaddam, corners Stewart and Jacobs, and safeties

Clayton and Dayne Pfaff.

Harbor opponents have averaged just fewer than 86 rushing yards per game

and not quite 93 passing yards per contest.

The Sailors are making their 10th playoff appearance in Brinkley’s 14

seasons, during which they are 15-7 against playoff foes. The Tars

advanced to the title game in 1992, ’94 and 96, claiming their only crown

in ’94 with a 14-0 season.

El Dorado was Southern Section runner up in 1975 (AA) and ’78 (Central

Conference) and has never played Harbor.

Friday’s winner will advance to meet either Villa Park or Santa Ana in

the quarterfinals, scheduled Nov. 26.