Football: Offense comes too late for Sailors

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - It had to happen sooner or later.

The Newport Harbor High football team, winners of 30 straight non-Sea

View League contests saw that streak come to an end following Thursday

night’s 26-18 nonleague loss to visiting Marina.

For the Vikings (2-0), they seem to have the Sailors’ number. They are

1-0-1 against the defending the CIF Southern Section Division VI champs

the past two seasons, while the rest of the competition is 0-13 during

that same time against the Tars.

Thursday’s battle came down to who could make more big plays and the

Vikings were the winners.

A 19-yard interception return for a touchdown by Aaron Peck as well as

a 76-yard touchdown by quarterback Beau Brown broke the backs of the Tars

(1-1).

Both teams’ offenses were shut down by two stingy defensive units.

The Sailors were held to 17 yards of total offense on two first downs

in the first half and could generate only three points.

It wasn’t easy offensively for the Vikings either, held to 51 yards of

total offense in the first half, thanks in large part to the play of

outside linebacker Garrett Troncale.

The 6-foot, 185-pound senior had two fumble recoveries, two

quarterback sacks and two tackles for loss of yardage in the first half

alone.

But the Sailors couldn’t capitalize on the Vikings miscues.

Following a Troncale fumble recovery on Marina’s 23-yard line, Newport

had to settle for a field goal attempt, which sailed wide.

Midway through the first half, Newport, trailing 3-0, was pinned on

its own 3-yard line and starting quarterback Chris Manderino was forced

to scramble in his own end zone. His pass found the arms of Jordan, who

scampered 19 yards to paydirt, giving Marina a 10-0 lead.

Newport cut the lead to 10-3 on a Duke Burchell 27-yard field goal and

actually had a chance to tie the score just before halftime.

A low center snap by Marina on a punt attempt gave the Sailors the

ball on the Vikings’ 6-yard line with 20 seconds left in the half.

A surprising quarterback sneak by Manderino yielded only a yard and

with no timeouts remaining, Newport was forced to spike the ball with one

second left.

Marina’s Adam Hayward got a piece of Newport’s field goal attempt and

another golden opportunity went for naught.

It left Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley speechless in the aftermath.

The Vikings drove 70 yards on 12 plays, ending the drive with a

39-yard field goal by Sean Sanchez, extending Marina’s lead to, 13-3.

With 3:26 left in the third quarter Newport put junior Brandon Craig

into the quarterback slot and moved Manderino to running back and

suddenly, the Sailors’ offense was kick-started.

Newport drove 80 yards on 12 plays, by far it’s longest drive of the

season and it ended with Craig’s 13-yard touchdown pass to a Brian Gaeta,

with a blue-ribbon catch. The lead was cut to three and the Sailor-heavy

crowd of 3,500 finally had reason to cheer.

That cheering ended 20 seconds later as Brown crushed the hearts of

Newport with a 76-yard touchdown on Marina’s first play of the following

drive.

Marina scored again on its next possession and the game was out of

reach.

Manderino, who ended the game with 20 carries for 63 yards, scored

late in the game on a 5-yard run, but it was too late.

Newport will take on rival Corona del Mar Friday night at 7 p.m.