Prep football: Have tables turned?

Barry Faulkner

LA MIRADA - In an age when parity has gripped the NFL and the

college hierarchy is shuffled by weekly upsets, prep football boosters at

Newport Harbor and La Mirada have learned to expect consistent success.

But defeat, experienced by each program about as frequently as

recommended dental checkups, will settle over one sideline Saturday at La

Mirada High, when the Sailors and Matadores square off in a CIF Southern

Section Division VI semifinal at 7:30 p.m.

It was then-top-seeded and unbeaten La Mirada which came away

disappointed in last year’s semifinal clash with Newport, a 35-16 triumph

Coach Jeff Brinkley termed one of the sweetest in his now 16-year tenure

at the school.

But this year, it’s No. 3-seeded Newport Harbor (10-1-1) which is the

favored road team against Coach John Mele’s unseeded Matadores (10-1).

“The tables are turned this year,” said Mele, whose program has

matched Harbor’s five section title-game appearances the previous nine

seasons. “Our kids remember last year and they know Newport Harbor has

another good football team. Playing at home is a big plus for us.”

La Mirada, which claimed a share of its ninth Suburban League title in

10 years, has won eight straight games, outscoring victims, 356-84,

during the streak. It’s only loss was a 28-17 setback Sept. 28 to a

Cerritos team the Sailors handled, 36-25, last week.

The Matadores, a dynastic 108-19-2 since 1992, have averaged nearly 37

points per game this season, while surrendering just 12.9 per contest.

Newport Harbor, which claimed its third Sea View League crown during

Brinkley’s reign, has won two straight after absorbing its only defeat to

Westchester in the regular-season finale. The Tars, 98-26-2 since ‘92,

have won 34 times over the last three seasons, a school record, and are

attempting to earn a spot in the division title game for the third

straight year.

The Tars average 30.3 points per game and are allowing 8.8 per outing,

the fewest in Orange County and Division VI.

Both teams have relied on similar formulas for success this season: a

strong running game, big-play passing game and oppressive defense.

Newport’s size up front -- averaging 6-foot-5, 261 pounds from

offensive tackle to tackle -- may be the most identifiable difference

between the two budding rivals.

“It’s going to be a very challenging situation to go into that

environment against a team I’m sure is very hungry to play us after last

year,” Brinkley said. “It’s as good a football team as we’ve seen this

year and it will take a great effort and extreme focus to get the job

done.”

Senior quarterback Morgan Craig has seen to it the Sailors have gotten

the job done most of his two seasons as the starter. This year, he has

completed 109 of 168 passes (nearly 65%) for 1,449 yards and 22

touchdowns. He has thrown only three interceptions, two of which

ricocheted off the hands of his own receivers.

La Mirada counters with senior West Covina transfer Chris Moreno under

center. Moreno has completed 119 of 188 (just better than 63%) for 1,745

yards and 20 TDs, with just four interceptions. In playoff wins over

Westminster and No. 2-seeded Foothill, Moreno is 28 for 34 for 408 yards,

four TDs and no interceptions.

Newport junior tailback Dartangan Johnson has rushed for 1,823 yards

and 15 touchdowns on 280 carries, operating behind a line keyed by

UCLA-bound tackle Robert Chai and Montana-bound center Jeff Marshall.

Johnson is bidding to become the Sailors third straight 2,000-yard

rusher, following the late Andre Stewart (1999) and Chris Manderino

(2000). Manderino amassed 271 yards and two TDs against the Matadores

last season.

The La Mirada running game is keyed by wingback Junior Vaca, who has

rushed for 1,445 yards and 23 TDs on 199 carries. He has 490 yards in the

playoffs and seven of his nine postseason TDs have come on the ground.

Along with with 17 receptions and kick returns, Vaca has 2,021

all-purpose yards and 30 TDs this fall.

Senior Gahr transfer Alejandro Mandibles (40 catches for 690 yards and

five TDs) and Tim MacLean (25 for 285 and three TDs) are Moreno’s

favorite receiving targets.

Newport is led in the receiving department by seniors Adam Kerns (25

catches for 572 yards and 11 TDs) and Brian Gaeta (23 for 277 and 3 TDs).

Gaeta, who missed nearly six games with an ankle injury this year, had

five catches for 82 yards and two TDs in last year’s upset of La Mirada.

He caught two of Craig’s four TD passes last week.

Newport is led defensively by senior middle linebacker Cory Ray,

senior linemen Jim Rothwell, Joe Foley and Scott Kohan, senior corners

Gaeta and Kerns (five interceptions), as well as junior safety Mike

McDonald (four).

The Sailors, will be without stalwart senior outside linebacker Tyler

Miller, who will have surgery Friday after badly breaking a finger in

Tuesday’s practice. Junior Dave Erickson will start in Miller’s place.

La Mirada is paced defensively by middle linebacker Ricky Lepe.

Saturday’s winner will play the winner of Friday’s semifinal between

No. 4-seeded Mayfair (9-3) and unseeded Laguna Hills (7-5) in the Dec. 7

title game.