Football: Tars D-eny Orange Lutheran

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - After turning in a masterpiece 1999 season, how does a predominantly new Newport Harbor High football team attempt a

second volume?

As was the case in Friday night’s season-opening 14-7 nail-biter

against visiting Orange Lutheran, it’s done one page at a time.

“I thought it was important for our players to get a win early in the

season to get their confidence going,” Coach Jeff Brinkley said.

“Sometimes it’s hard coming off an undefeated season with a lot of new

guys. They might wonder, ‘How are we going to duplicate that?’ It’s a

game-by-game process.”

With the offensive stats at a stalemate and both team’s defenses

controlling the game, it was up to the Sailors’ special teams to help

turn the tables.

With the Lancers punting on fourth down, Sailors senior Ian Banigan

busted up the middle to block Jon Talmage’s kick, waking up the Tar-heavy

crowd of approximately 4,000. Junior Tyler Miller recovered the punt on

the Lancers’ 9-yard-line, giving Newport its best chance to tie the

score.

Senior fullback Dennis Thornton took the next two snaps and busted

through the Lancers defense. The second run, a 5-yard grinder in which he

was stopped at the two, but he stretched his 5-foot-10 frame enough to

reach the goal-line.

“I told the guys that the special teams were going to have to make a

big play for us and they did,” Brinkley said. “Ian had the big play and

we were fortunate enough to cash in on it.”

Despite the Lancers coming from Division XI, Brinkley knew this was

not going to be an easy contest.

“They’ve won 20 of their last 22 games,” Brinkley said. “This was

pretty much how I expected it would be. Both teams battling it out.”

Orange Lutheran almost made it look too easy against the defending CIF

Southern Section Division VI champs, scoring on the first drive of the

game.

With a variety of formations and hitches, the Lancers marched down the

field and scored on a 34-yard pass from quarterback Jason Taylor to

Talmage.

“They caught us a little flat-footed out there,” Brinkley said. “We

knew they were going to throw lots of different formations at us. We just

had to pick up the intensity and get to work.”

The defensive line of Banigan, Joe Foley, Garrett Troncale and Nick

Moghaddam, along with Manderino at linebacker, sacked the Lancers

quarterbacks six times and hammered any Orange Lutheran player who would

cross their path.

“They’re all very smart players and were well-prepared,” defensive

line coach Mike Bargas said. “It’s a credit to (fellow DL Coach) Evan

Chalmers and the rest of the staff. They were well-coached tonight.”

Four minutes into the third quarter, Newport Harbor got a second big

play, this time from Foley, who recovered a Lancers’ fumble on Orange

Lutheran’s 44-yard-line.

Seven plays later, Manderino plowed in from a yard out, giving the

lead to Newport, 14-7.

Orange Lutheran pulled out all the tricks in the second half, but the

Sailors’ defense held tough.

The Lancers had a successful onside kick and a successful fake punt,

but still could not find the end zone.

Offensively, Manderino was 7 for 15 for 104 yards, while Ryan Ortega

ran for 56 yards on 15 carries.

“We’ll look at the videotape this week and evaluate the offense and

what we have to do to be more successful,” Brinkley said. “It’s not easy

trying to replace a running back like Andre Stewart and it’s going to

take time.”

The win improves Newport’s record against non-Sea View League teams to

29-0-1 in its last 30 contests.

The Sailors have six days to come up with some extra offensive punch

before Marina (1-0) heads into Davidson Field Thursday night at 7.

It’s a rematch of last year’s 21-21 stalemate between the two schools,

the only non-win on the Tars’ 13-0-1 season last year.

“They’re another team that will use multiple formations and will try

to confuse us with gadgets,” Brinkley said.