Bravehearts: Newport Harbor defensive line

Barry Faulkner

While some schools elected to cancel games last week, the Newport

Harbor High football team’s defensive line settled for virtually

rendering the Marina running attack null and void.

The Sailors’ front four, consisting primarily of the five-man rotation

of tackle Scott Kohan, noseguard Joe Foley, as well as ends Bryan

Breland, David Marshall and Jim Rothwell, helped limit the Vikings to 49

rushing yards on 24 attempts.

Marina lost yards on nine running plays, while eight others garnered 3

yards or less.

Utilizing strength, technique, determination and quickness, the group

supervised by assistants Mike Bargas and Pat Paternie surrendered just

one rushing first down in helping the Tars get their first shutout in 18

games. Marina’s deepest penetration was the Harbor 25-yard line.

With Kohan and Foley manning the middle and Breland, Marshall and

Rothwell unleashing a parenthetical plague on the neutral zone, the

Sailors, despite the presence of a single returning starter, lead Orange

County in scoring defense (3.5 points per game) through two weeks.

It’s the linebackers who traditionally seize the spotlight in the

Sailors’ four-three defensive scheme. But, against Marina, the second

line of defense was consistently reduced to second fiddle.

One Kohan stop graphically demonstrated the Sailors’ physical

domination as he recorded a tackle for a 6-yard loss without even

touching the ball carrier.

“(Kohan) bull-rushed the guard and just crushed him backward into the

running back,” Newport Coach Jeff Brinkley said.

“Both Scott and Joe gave us a good push all night in the middle, but

especially Scott.”

The 6-foot-2, 263-pound Kohan, a senior, has blossomed after serving

an apprenticeship last season to Nick Moghaddam.

“His mental attitude and work ethic are much better this year and he

has really learned the position,” Brinkley said. “Now, he’s a good

technician, along with being a big strong guy.”

Brinkley praised the unselfishness of Foley (6-0, 230), a senior whose

presence at noseguard takes him away from his preferred linebacker spot.

“I think deep down in his heart, he’d like to be playing linebacker,”

Brinkley said. “But, luckily, he’s a team player. “He’s our strongest

player and he moves very well.”

Breland (6-3, 245), who also starts at guard, adds muscle outside. He

typically rotates with Marshall (6-2, 190), another two-way starter

(fullback), who brings quickness and athleticism to the perimeter.

Rothwell (5-10, 165) fits a long line of undersized, overachieving

Harbor ends.

“(Rothwell) is just a total Sailor,” Brinkley said. “He plays his tail

off.”

Senior end Matt Casserly also contributed to the carnage against

Marina. He came off the bench to make an impact, which included his

team’s lone sack for a 10-yard loss.