Tradition-rich rivals

Barry Faulkner

BUENA PARK - Growing up in their respective communities, football

players at Irvine High and Newport Harbor are well versed in the proud

recent traditions both programs have forged.

But as they prepare for Friday’s CIF Southern Section Division VI

championship game -- 7:30 p.m. at Orange Coast College -- Irvine middle

linebacker Mike Patterson and Harbor outside ‘backer Mike Tunney revealed

a more personal link to their schools’ three previous trips to the CIF

title game this decade.

Patterson, one of three Irvine captains at the Sequoia Athletic Club

Monday for the annual press conference luncheon, said he cheered on older

brothers Ryan and John during Irvine’s three-year title run from 1991-93.

“All three (Irvine championship) rings are in my family,” said the

younger Patterson, a 6-foot, 185-pounder recognized as one of the Sea

View League’s most tenacious defenders.

“Ryan was a strong safety on the 1991-92 champions and John played

defensive end in 1993-94 (the former a CIF title campaign).”

Tunney’s older brother, Noah, played football at Harbor through his

junior season, but the current Newport standout’s memories of the Tars’

title-game appearances in 1992, ’94 and ’96 are simply as an interested

spectator.

“I was at all three games,” Tunney, a key component of Orange County’s

stingiest defense, said.

Newport played Irvine in the 1992 Division IV final and Tunney was asked

what he recalled about that showdown, won by Irvine, 30-8.

“I remember playing touch football on the (Orange Coast College) field at

halftime,” he said with a smile.

Tunney’s fellow captains Billy Clayton, Blair Jones and Justin Jacobs

also represented the Sailors (12-0-1) at Monday’s luncheon, along with

Coach Jeff Brinkley, Boys Athletic Director Eric Tweit and Principal Bob

Boies.

Though Clayton, Jacobs and Jones have never seen Newport play for a

championship, they did provide insight on the first meeting with the Vaqs

this season, a 12-10 Newport victory Oct. 15.

“It was one of the most hard-fought contests we’ve had all year,” Clayton

said. “It was tough all the way through.”

Jones, a 6-foot-8, 263-pound senior offensive tackle, who drew oohs and

ahs from surrounding tables when he stood during introductions,

remembered Irvine’s aggressive defense.

“They were very quick and hard-hitting,” Jones said of Coach Terry

Henigan’s Vaqueros (10-2-1). “I’ve never played a team twice in the same

season, but I’m looking for a completely new script. We have to forget

about what happened the first game.”

Said Jacobs, “Both teams played hard that first game and we expect the

same thing this time, too. We know Irvine is a good team.”

Irvine linebacker-tight end Jeff Patty, who snapped on the would-be

go-ahead 35-yard field-goal attempt blocked by Harbor’s Garrett Troncale

with 4:51 left to preserve the victory, said he feels fortunate to get

another shot at the Sailors.

“Ever since we lost to them, everyone on the team has hoped for a chance

to see these guys again,” Patty said. “I don’t know if losing the way we

did gives us a motivational edge, but it’s definitely motivation.”

Irvine senior receiver James Whitted, who missed the first Newport

meeting with an injured knee, said he hopes to help his team avert the

offensive struggles it experienced against Harbor, particularly in the

air (just four completions in six pass attempts for 81 yards).

“It was tough to watch that night, because our offense didn’t play as

well as we have lately,” said Whitted, who has 23 of his 54 catches in

the playoffs.

“This isn’t about revenge; it’s about rings,” Patterson summed up.