Prep football: Allegiance to the cause

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - While the tragic events of Sept. 11 prompted

Americans everywhere to display broad stripes and bright stars, pride and

patriotism was merely a part of the uniform for the Newport Harbor High

football team.

“I know the kids felt it,” Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley said of the

terrorist attacks that decimated not only some of the nation’s symbolic

structures, but the collective psyche of its citizenry, as well.

“We talked about it as a team and we talked about the American flags

on our helmets (a logo in place for decades). We told them they should be

proud to wear them and I know (the logo) has a positive impact on our

guys.”

With their ability to focus on football, despite a week of sobering

distraction, the Sailor players also did their coaching staff proud,

Brinkley said.

“They maintained that focus and desire to go out and do well.”

The Sailors dominated play in Saturday’s 28-0 nonleague victory over

Marina. Brinkley said the performance provided the gratification that was

delayed one week by a season-opening 7-7 tie against Orange Lutheran.

“Like I said last week, that tie didn’t sit well with us,” Brinkley

said. “To come back and put things together like we did Saturday, was

good to see. We are definitely making progress.”

Brinkley was pleased on both sides of the ball.

“Offensively, we moved the ball and had some nice drives. We had so

much better balance than the week before. We threw the ball extremely

well and our running game was a good combination of (Dartangan Johnson)

running it well and our blocking up front.”

Senior quarterback Morgan Criag completed 12 of 14 for 135 yards and

four touchdowns, while Johnson amassed 208 rushing yards on 26 attempts.

“Our defense played really well. We defensed the option just the way

we practiced it. We tackled the veer (dive back), tackled the quarterback

and tackled the pitch man. When you play against the option, everyone

needs to take care of their assignments and we did that. Our front played

very well inside.”

On that defensive front, Brinkley singled out the work of senior Scott

Kohan, whose penetration made it difficult for Marina to earn any

productivity between the tackles.

Brinkley also had praise for sophomore Warren Junowich, who worked his

way from a junior varsity role into the starting opportunity at safety,

created by injuries to seniors Brian Gaeta and Jon Vandersloot.

“(Junowich, who had one interception) played very well,” Brinkley

said. “He has some quickness, so he can close (on receivers) and he is

one of those guys who is instinctive. That’s what (Defensive Coordinator

and secondary coach Evan Chalmers) saw and liked about him in practice.”

Brinkley also believes flopping Joe Foley and David Marshall to tight

end and fullback, respectively, creates a better recipe for success.

“It wasn’t as if either one was doing a bad job at his old position,”

Brinkley said. “But this just gives us a better chemistry.”

Brinkley believes the victory was also a welcome cure.

“Our kids work so hard through the offseason, you really hope they see

success early,” he said. “They invest so much time and effort, it’s good

to see them reap some of the benefits.”

The Sailors (1-0-1) will try to earn further reward this week, when

they visit Back Bay rival Corona del Mar (1-0-1) in the Battle of the Bay

XL, Friday at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College.