Prep football: Bravehearts, Newport Harbor defensive line

Newport Harbor High football coaches call it playing within the

system. But, when the Sailors’ defense has it going as it did in Friday’s

28-7 nonleague victory over Claremont, the opponent would probably refer

to it as system overload.

Claremont, with an offensive line averaging 285 pounds from tackle to

tackle, was, in fact, overrun by a Newport front four lacking its best

player.

With senior All-Newport-Mesa District and All-Sea View League end

Garrett Troncale watching in street clothes, resting an ankle injury he

sustained in practice, the front wall of ends Ian Banigan and Joe Foley,

tackle Nick Moghaddam and noseguard C.J. Collins, helped stifle the

Wolfpack running game at virtually every turn.

Of Claremont’s 29 running plays (including two quarterback sacks for

minus-8 yards), 16 resulted in zero or negative yards. A late 77-yard

burst, which did not reach the end zone, accounted for most of the

Wolfpack’s 84 yards on the ground.

And, with only 13 additional yards through the air, (three completions

in 10 attempts), the front four helped keep Claremont below the 100-yard

mark, a defensive first this season.

“They obviously played really well,” said Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley,

eager to pass along credit to assistants Mike Bargas and Pat Paternie,

who work directly with the defensive linemen.

Banigan, a 6-foot-2, 218-pound senior Santa Margarita transfer,

combines with Troncale to form what Brinkley believes is the finest pair

of ends he’s had during his 15-season tenure.

Banigan has two sacks this season, while Troncale, expected to return

this week, has six after leading the team last year with 12.

Moghaddam, a 6-4, 260-pound returning starter, had a sack against

Claremont, but his primary role is defending the middle against the run.

Collins, who had missed most of the season with a badly sprained

ankle, returned to solidify the interior against Claremont. A 6-1,

230-pound senior, his best football is still ahead.

Foley, a 6-0, 238-pound junior, filled in for Collins in recent weeks,

before shifting outside to take Troncale’s spot. Also a starter at tight

end, Foley’s utility role could include some time at linebacker, a

position he played his first two years in the program. He had the other

sack Friday.

-- by Barry Faulkner