Prep column: Sailors chart course for title

Barry Faulkner

Though I consider myself a trained professional, there need be no

disclaimer on this column. Go ahead, try this at home. Feel free to

handicap the impending high school football races in the Sea View and

Pacific Coast leagues. Start an office pool. Or not.

Anyway, the annual “write” of passage -- even, I’ll admit, the

occasional failure -- is at hand, so here goes my best educated guess.

Let’s start with the Sea View League, the five members of which have

combined to post the best winning percentage (16-5-2 for 74%) of any

league in Orange County. The “League of Champions” has sent its winner on

to claim its divisions last nine CIF Southern Section titles and Newport

Harbor could make it a decade of dominance.

The Sailors are huge up front, offensively, stocked at the skill

positions, and they lead the county in scoring defense. Coach Jeff

Brinkley’s boys (4-0-1) have been to two straight section title games,

splitting matchups with Sea View rival Irvine. Ranked No. 2 in Division

VI, behind 5-0 Foothill, the Tars also figure to get better when senior

two-way standout Brian Gaeta returns sometime in October.

Last year was supposed to be Irvine’s swan song among the division’s

elite teams and the Vaqueros milked it, going 14-0 and topping Newport in

the section title game. But, despite enrollment losses to Northwood, the

Vaqs (2-1-1) have added talented Dana Hills transfer Terrell Vinson and

appear unwilling to accept their anticipated demotion to the league’s

lower division. Coach Terry Henigan’s squad tied the same Orange Lutheran

team that played Harbor to a 7-7 season-opening stalemate and, as with

all Henigan teams, the Vaqs will get better with time. The Oct. 19

showdown at Newport Harbor may wind up being the game to circle in this

race.

Woodbridge (4-1) has lost only to the respected Foothill Knights and

is ranked No. 8 in Division VI. But, averaging just less than 19 points

per game, Coach Rick Gibson’s Warriors may lack the firepower to crack

the top three.

Aliso Niguel (3-1) and Laguna Hills (3-2) are anything but also-rans.

The Wolverines and Hawks played the most demanding preleague schedules of

any Sea View team.

Laguna Hills, No. 9 in Division VI, has battled critical injuries and,

if healthy, could easily earn one of the league’s three automatic playoff

berths.

At No. 10 in Division VI, Aliso, which took its lumps while seasoning

young players last fall, should reap some benefits from that experience

this year. But whether that can translate into the two league wins

necessary to crack the top three, remains to be seen. Friday’s league

opener against Newport Harbor should speak volumes about how ready Coach

Joe Wood’s squad is to compete with this strong five-team contingent.

My projected order of finish: Newport Harbor, Irvine, Laguna Hills,

Woodbridge and Aliso Niguel.

The PCL, in which current representatives have a combined 2-11

postseason record the last five seasons, appears ready to break out of

its playoff doldrums.

With a combined 20-7-1 mark, the PCL is tops among county leagues in

victories thus far.

Northwood (5-0), in only its second varsity season, is already well on

its way to becoming the big bad Timberwolves people expected from the

newest Irvine school. Coach Rick Curtis’ team is ranked No. 3 in CIF

Division IX and loaded at the skill positions.

Defending league champion University (3-1) is No. 5 in Division VI,

where Corona del Mar checks in with the No. 7 ranking.

The consensus here would color the top three spots navy blue and gray,

the color schemes of Northwood, Uni and CdM.

Laguna Beach (5-0) has a talented running back in Donelle Darling, a

capable quarterback in Todd Merz and senior safety Jason Boyd just might

be the best defensive player in the league.

But, with all due respect to Coach Dave Holland, the Artists faced

cardboard cutouts until earning a 35-14 win over Santa Ana Valley last

week. Two wins would likely clinch at least an at-large playoff berth,

but, in addition to an expected triumph over Estancia, the other will

probably have to come at the expense of CdM or Costa Mesa.

Injury beleaguered CdM (3-1-1), also known as HMO, could be a sleeper,

especially if some fallen troops return. But a third-place finish and

subsequent first-round playoff date with a league champion, is the most

likely -- and most dreaded -- scenario for Coach Dick Freeman’s unit.

Costa Mesa (4-1) has faced questionable competition and its loss is to

a Westminster team CdM just beat. Coach Dave Perkins Mustangs, who have

dedicated this season to the late Matt Colby, a senior who died after

collapsing in a Sept. 28 game, have at least one of the two best offenses

in the league. Defense, however, particularly pass defense, will need to

solidify for them to return to the postseason.

Estancia (0-4) would make first-year coach Jay Noonan’s season with a

single league win, but brighter horizons await the Eagles next fall in

the Golden West League, which will also include Costa Mesa.

From top to bottom, I’ll go with Northwood, Uni, CdM, Costa Mesa,

Laguna Beach and Estancia.