Prep column: A change of seasons

Barry Faulkner

Forget what the encyclopedia may say about benchmarks such as

equinox and solstice, and disregard the falling leaves and dropping

temperatures which you’ve encountered for weeks. For this sportswriter,

the change of seasons is not so much fall to winter to spring to summer,

as football to basketball to baseball to vacation.

Oh sure, I also enjoy the other sports that fill out the prep athletic

calendar. I just don’t set my occupational clock to them.

It is, I find, this particular transition from football to basketball

that is annually the most stark. Basketball season really doesn’t begin,

for me, until football is over.

So, after 14 glorious weeks and a three-day weekend, it is time to put

away the binoculars, file away the gamebusters and Bravehearts, polish

off the statistics and commit the first football season of the new

millennium to memory.

Before it all gets crammed into Manila folders, however, I thought I’d

share a few memories with you.

Best game - Estancia 34, Costa Mesa 27. This Oct. 27 crosstown

showdown featured playoff ramifications, a surprising 20-0 Costa Mesa

lead and a dramatic Estancia comeback, all amid the emotional atmosphere

only rivalry games can create.

Estancia drew even late in the third quarter, went ahead, 27-20, on

its next possession, but had to score in the final 21 seconds to break a

27-27 tie.

Best player - Newport Harbor senior Chris Manderino turned in a

two-way performance to rival Harbor recent alums Brett Baker (1997) and

Brian Johnson (‘94). He rushed for 2,141 yards, scored 31 touchdowns, and

was a relentless defensive force at outside linebacker.

Manderino’s four-game postseason (692 yards and 10 TDs) was even more

remarkable, considering he separated his right shoulder in the CIF

Southern Section Division VI playoff opener against Westminster.

Best hits - The one that stands out is Manderino leveling La Mirada

tight end Brett Erickson after a catch over the middle in the Sailors’

35-16 semifinal upset.

But, in terms of sheer quantity, Newport senior middle linebacker Alan

“No Trespassing” Saenz registered most on the stick-ometer.

Costa Mesa senior 170-pound linebacker Louis Day, lithe but lethal,

also deserves mention for several tombstone tackles.

A late entry comes from Harbor offensive guard Jim Erickson, who made

Irvine’s Joe Bollard pay for a 45-yard interception return with a

blindside levitation near midfield in Friday’s Division VI title game.

Best move - Costa Mesa junior Nick Cabico gesturing with his finger to

direct a phantom blocker and confuse a Saddleback tackler in the open

field. Cabico then sprinted past the distracted defender to cap a 36-yard

catch-and-run for a touchdown.

Best vocabulary - Corona del Mar senior offensive tackle Dave

Richardson, a 6-foot-5, 300-pounder, struck a blow to dumb linemen

stereotyping by slipping the word “congeal” into a postgame discussion

about the Sea Kings’ five-game winning streak after an 0-3 start.

Best rag doll imitation - An overmatched Northwood offensive tackle,

faced with the unenviable assignment of pass blocking Estancia senior

defensive end Cesar Romero. Game-night duties often preclude those in the

press box from watching the trenches, but I couldn’t help but notice

Romero’s blatant bull rush.

Best call - Newport Coach Jeff Brinkley’s decision to shift Manderino

from quarterback to tailback at halftime of a Week 2 loss to Marina.

The Sea View League choosing to change kickoff from 7:30 p.m. to 7 is

another personal favorite. An extra 30 minutes on deadline is a coveted

luxury.

Best pass - CdM junior Joe Barber’s 65-yard bomb to Matt Moore against

Estancia (the ball traveled 55 yards in the air) was unrivaled, until

Newport junior Morgan Craig arced a perfect strike over a well-positioned

Irvine defender to Mitch Gray on a 14-yard out in Friday’s title game.

Best images - 1) Manderino jumping on top of Craig after the latter,

his QB apprentice, completed a 42-yard post to Gray against La Mirada. It

was unbridled, spontaneous joy.

2) Tears streaming down the face of Estancia senior Mario Mendoza,

sidelined for the season by a heart ailment, after his mates defeated

Costa Mesa to retain the perpetual Victory Bell.

3) The back of Newport fullback Travis Trimble’s No. 44 jersey as he

sledgehammered himself into another lead block.

4) Estancia senior Andy Romo accelerating around the corner with the

ball under his arm.

5) CdM senior tailback Blake Hacker and Estancia senior fullback Fahad

Jahid bowling through would-be tacklers with centrifugal force.

6) CdM senior Charlie Alshuler and Newport junior Brian Gaeta leaping

high to intercept an opposing pass.

7) Newport senior defensive ends Garrett Troncale and Ian Banigan

meeting at the quarterback.