Prep football: One tough call

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Still wrestling with whether to play senior Chris

Manderino at quarterback or tailback, Newport Harbor High football coach

Jeff Brinkley likely didn’t consider the obvious compromise.

That’s right, the Sailors won’t be running the single wing this fall.

Levity aside, Brinkley’s decision may determine whether the Tars can

make a run at defending their CIF Southern Section Division VI

championship.

Further, the decision, ultimately, may not be dictated as much by

Manderino, as by the players who would start at whatever position he does

not. The performances of junior quarterback Morgan Craig and senior

tailback Ryan Ortega -- most notably in Friday’s 10 a.m. scrimmage at

Mission Viejo -- may be the deciding factor as to where Brinkley deploys

last year’s Daily Pilot Sea View League MVP.

Ironically, the circumstances in which Manderino won the starting job

last year -- a two-player battle with then-sophomore Brian Gaeta which

extended two games into the season -- have led Brinkley to assert he

hopes to have the matter resolved by the time the season kicks off Sept.

8 against Orange Lutheran.

Instability at the position last year was clearly a factor in a 21-21

tie in Week 2 against Marina, the only blemish on an otherwise perfect

season.

After that disappointing deadlock, Manderino assumed the starting role

and the Tars won their next 12 games. Dating back to a 9-0-1 season as

the junior varsity quarterback, Manderino, a tailback his freshman year,

is unbeaten at Harbor in games he has started under center.

Ortega, the leading ball carrier and the Back of the Year on last

year’s 9-1 JV team, also gained 274 yards and scored two touchdowns on 44

varsity carries. But at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, he is clearly not the

physical runner Manderino can be.

Elsewhere, the lineup appears virtually set. Here’s a

position-by-position breakdown:

Quarterback: Manderino is solid, though unspectacular as a passer (54

of 124 for 912 yards, 12 TDs and eight interceptions last year), but his

running ability, toughness and leadership would be tough to duplicate.

Craig (6-2, 182) has impressed Brinkley thus far. He completed 2 of 3

for 24 yards last season.

“He’s throwing the ball well and I feel confident with him playing,”

Brinkley said.

Michael McDonald, the son of former USC and NFL quarterback Paul

McDonald, figures to man the junior varsity controls. He started for the

freshmen last fall.

Running backs: Ortega, like many of his Harbor predecessors, boasts

toughness beyond his size. He took advantage of some one-sided preleague

victories to gain experience last fall, including an 11-carry, 110-yard

performance against Magnolia.

If Manderino remains at quarterback, Ortega could share time with a

cast including juniors Dennis Thornton and Matt Casserly, as well as

sophomore Dede Johnson.

Thornton (5-10, 195), whom Brinkley described as more punishing than

his backfield mates, had 22 yards on eight carries as a sophomore.

Casserly (6-0, 170), who was offensive player of the week after

burning Fairfax for 117 yards and two TDs on 24 carries last year, added

just 11 yards on five carries in all his other action. Brinkley believes

he’s more effective running between the tackles.

Johnson, up from the freshmen team, is the fastest of the group and

Brinkley forecasts a big future for the 6-0, 167-pounder.

Senior fullback Travis Trimble earned second-team All-Sea View League

distinction as a devastating blocker last season. He carried just 15

times for 46 yards and three TDs, but did catch five passes for 105 more.

Brinkley would like to take advantage of his receiving talents more

this year, though his blocking expertise will be his primary

contribution. At 6-1, 225, he’ll bring 17 more pounds than last year to

collisions with defenders.

Senior middle linebacker Alan Saenz, the Newport-Mesa District

Defensive Player of the Year, will also see spot duty at fullback,

particularly in short-yardage situations.

Junior David Marshall is another backup fullback.

Receivers: Gaeta didn’t work out at quarterback last year, but he’s

too talented an athlete not to have on the field somewhere. So, he shifts

to wideout, where he will help replace decorated 2000 graduates Billy

Clayton and Justin Jacobs.

“He’s an athlete and a competitor,” Brinkley said of the 6-2, 180

junior. “He’s pretty physical, he runs adequately and he catches the ball

as well as anyone we have.”

Senior Mitch Gray (5-11, 165) brings more speed to the position, while

junior Jon Vandersloot (6-3, 172) will play a lot as the third receiver.

Junior Adam Kerns, Craig’s favorite target as a freshman, will add

depth.

Tight end: Joe Foley, a 6-0, 238-pound junior, has the early starting

nod, with senior Andy Rankin, who should start at outside linebacker,

playing some in double-tight sets.

Junior Cory Ray (6-1, 190) is up from the junior varsity, while

Marshall could also chip in here.

Foley, the younger brother of former Harbor and USC quarterback Shane

Foley, is a strong blocker, which is the leading requirement in this

system. Harbor tight ends, including all-district senior Nick Langsdorf,

had only two receptions in ’99.

“Looking at film on (Foley) from last year, he played very well for us

when he got the opportunity,” Brinkley said.

Offensive line: One of the best units in Brinkley’s tenure, three of

whom had started since they were juniors, graduated. All five earned

all-league recognition and four were all-district. Left tackle Blair

Jones was All-CIF, before accepting a scholarship to USC, while right

tackle Robert Cole is competing as a freshman at Brown.

But that was then.

Now, senior Santa Margarita transfer Scott Lopez (6-2, 285), an

All-Serra League performer last year, brings welcome experience at right

tackle.

“He’s a good technician,” Brinkley said of Lopez, who allowed the

Sailors to move junior Bryan Breland (6-3, 240) from tackle to guard.

Breland started the CIF title game for Cole, who broke his leg in the

semifinals, and has locked up the right guard position. He was the

Lineman of the Year on last year’s JV.

Junior Robert Chai (6-4, 265) figures to start at left tackle, after

waiting in the wings last fall.

“Chai is pretty athletic for a big guy,” Brinkley said.

Senior Ryan Devin (6-3, 200), who transferred from Mater Dei before

last season, and senior Jim Erickson (6-1, 210) were battling evenly for

the other guard spot, according to Brinkley.

Junior Jeff Marshall (6-4, 200) and senior C.J. Collins (6-1, 230) are

the candidates at center.

Nick Moghaddam, a returning starter at defensive tackle, and junior

John Debrott (6-7, 277), are quality backups.

“In general, I think this will be a good group,” Brinkley said.

“There’s not a lot of experience, so the preseason will be critical for

them to get in sync.”

Defensive line: Garrett Troncale, a hero of last year’s 19-18 CIF

title-game triumph over Irvine (forcing a fumble with a sack, which

senior noseguard Andy Kalanz scooped up and ran in for the winning TD)

already has a secure place in Harbor gridiron history.

This year, the senior end (6-0, 185) is looking to secure a consistent

spot in the opposing backfield.

He led the team with 12 sacks last fall and his rare combination of

quickness and strength make him a frustrating matchup for bigger, slower

tackles. An all-league and all-district performer as a junior, he also

plays the run well.

“He will be a definite force this year,” Brinkley said.

Moghaddam (6-4, 260), a senior tackle, is 30 pounds heavier than last

season, when he collected 39 tackles in 13 starts.

Senior Ian Banigan (6-3, 218), is another Santa Margarita transfer,

who should fit in nicely at the other end spot.

Collins has the edge at noseguard, while Lopez, Foley and Scott Kohan

(6-2, 270) provide depth inside.

Kohan, a Newport native, returns home after starting for the varsity

as a sophomore at a prep school in Pennsylvania in ’99.

Jim Rothwell, who led the JV in sacks, should provide a boost as a

pass-rush specialist. Brinkley compares Rothwell to his older brother

Brad, who had 11 sacks in a similar role last season.

Linebackers: Blockers beware: The Sailors are bigger than ever here,

with Saenz (6-2, 260) in the middle and Manderino (6-1, 205) and Rankin

(6-3, 216) outside.

Saenz, who led the team with 74 tackles, including 50 unassisted, is

back to reclaim All-CIF laurels. He could be the most imposing force in

the Sea View League.

“He’s a load,” sums up Brinkley of his experienced stalwart, who is

getting recruiting mail from Pac 10 schools.

Manderino, perhaps more famous for his offensive contribution, is a

devastating hitter on defense. His 71 tackles were third on the team last

year and his ability to play in space earned him two interceptions. His

instincts and desire usually place him within short striking distance of

the football and Brinkley believes any collegiate future would include

defense.

Rankin, who played extensively as a backup last year, has added nearly

30 pounds. A quarterback for the ’97 freshmen team, he now disrupts

passing attacks. He had two interceptions as a junior.

With a combined average of 6-2, 227 pounds, this trio is by far the

biggest in Brinkley’s 15 seasons. In fact, they collectively surpass the

combined weight of the three biggest starting linebackers (from any year)

to wear Newport blue in the 1990s.

Foley, Ray and Thornton add depth inside, while Craig and Tyler Miller

could see time outside, Brinkley said.

Secondary: Gaeta and senior Ryan Spruth are the projected starters at

cornerback.

Senior Dane Barton (strong) and junior David Sprenger (free) are the

front-runners at safety.

This is another area where experience will be gained as the season

progresses, as only Barton played much last fall for a group that

produced 26 interceptions.

Gaeta’s athleticism will be deployed on the wide side of the field,

but none of the starters possess more than adequate speed.

Casserly, Kerns and junior Lu Castillo are backups at cornerback,

while Johnson and Vandersloot provide depth at safety.

Kicking game: Gaeta, who took over the job in Week 8, converted 27 of

28 PATS. He also booted the team’s only two field goals (of 38 and 36

yards) to help win the CIF championship game.

But the projected two-way starter may leave the job to senior newcomer

Duke Burchell, an All-Sea View soccer goalie, who has shown 50-yard

range.

Senior Chris Bargas has been punting well and could contribute to a

strong kicking game.

Rankin and Rothwell can longsnap and Craig will be the holder.

Gray, Kerns and Johnson are foremost among the candidates to return

kicks.