Prep football: Sailors trudge onward

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - While “dealing with adversity” is a time-honored

coaching cliche, it seldom takes on the meaning it held recently for the

Newport Harbor High football program.

In the aftermath of the May 14 auto accident which claimed the life of

senior All-CIF running back Andre Stewart, however, the Sailors banded

together to cope with their collective loss, as well as to help celebrate

the impact their former tailback had on so many.

Beginning Tuesday, with heavy hearts, Coach Jeff Brinkley, his staff and

his players, began diverting their focus, if only for a few hours each

day, to spring practice.

“Our program is based on things that, hopefully, will help our kids get

through times like these,” said Brinkley, who acknowledges that a

practice routine will provide a positive focal point toward the future.

“We’re a very tightknit football family and we’re all still leaning on

each other,” Brinkley said.

On the field, the Sailors plan to address several issues this spring,

including sorting out a collection of talent at the skill positions.

Chris Manderino, who started 12 games at quarterback as a junior and

earned Daily Pilot Sea View League MVP honors while helping lead the Tars

to a 13-0-1 record and the CIF Southern Section Division VI title, could

be part of that sorting process.

Though Brinkley loves his leadership ability and athleticism under

center, Manderino may be shifted to tailback, allowing Morgan Craig, who

will be a junior, to assume the QB role.

“We have a lot of guys competing for the tailback spot, so we’ll have to

see how things pan out,” said Brinkley, who mentioned Ryan Ortega, Matt

Casserly and Dennis Thorton as potential successors to Stewart. “If one

of them emerges, we can leave Chris at quarterback.”

Former quarterback Brian Gaeta, who will be a junior, will begin the

transition to wide receiver, while also working at defensive back.

Joe Foley, a linebacker last season as a sophomore, will be tried at

noseguard, while former junior varsity linebacker David Marshall will

shift to cornerback, Brinkley said.

In addition to getting the returners to fit in, the Tars will also be

assimilating two former Santa Margarita linemen into the program.

Scott Lopez and Ian Banigan, both of whom will be seniors, will get to

see what fall practices are like, since Brinkley and his staff run the

same practice format in the spring.

“(The transfers) have seen the work ethic in the weight room and the

conditioning, but they’ll need to understand the practice procedures,”

Brinkley said.

While players will learn the entire offensive and defensive systems,

Brinkley believes the spring also helps mentally energize his players for

the upcoming season.

“Sometimes it’s hard in January and February to convince the kids that

the season is right around the corner,” Brinkley said. “But once you get

into spring ball, that reality starts setting in.”

The Tars will typically practice four days a week, through June 16, with

a booster barbecue scheduled to follow the final workout.