NEWPORT HARBOR Sailors

Barry Faulkner

The Newport Harbor High football program didn’t do anything under

Friday night lights it couldn’t also accomplish Thursday and Friday

afternoons. A 10-2-1 varsity record, in fact, was rivaled by an 8-0

junior varsity slate, as well as an unbeaten freshman campaign.

The talent that produced such unprecedented lower-level success

will be counted upon heavily to fill a void left by graduation and

season-ending injury this fall, as only three starters return on

offense and two on defense to help Coach Jeff Brinkley’s Sailors

defend only their third Sea View League crown during Brinkley’s

momentous 16-season tenure at the helm.

Perhaps making the younger players’ transition easier is the

appearance of six Thursday games in the 10-game regular-season

schedule. Additionally, after opening the year on the road against

Trabuco Hills the Tars play five straight home games and six of their

next seven, at their on-campus stadium.

Here’s a position-by-position look at the personnel that will

attempt to extend that schedule well into the CIF Southern Section

Division VI Playoffs:

Quarterback: Senior Michael McDonald was relegated to seldom-used

backup the last two seasons, as Morgan Craig, now a walk-on at USC,

guided the Tars to victory in 20 of his 25 career starts. But the son

of former USC and NFL quarterback Paul McDonald showed enough ability

in his brief stints under center to indicate he could keep the

Sailors’ ship navigating through opposing defenses.

McDonald’s combined varsity numbers amount to about one

outstanding game -- 17 for 22 for 214 yards and three touchdowns --

and after a strong showing in the spring and summer, McDonald is

expected to continue more of the same.

“We always shoot for about 70% completions when we go

seven-on-seven (the typical offseason format) and Michael was right

there,” Brinkley said. “And he threw only four interceptions all

summer.”

McDonald’s accurate arm and solid decision making should help

alleviate the loss of Craig, last season’s Newport-Mesa MVP who threw

for nearly 3,000 yards and 32 TDs, completing almost 62% of his

passes, in a distinguished prep career.

“He is a really pure quarterback,” Brinkley said of McDonald, who

caught 20 passes for 232 yards and one TD as a starting receiver last

fall. “He understands the system, he understands defenses and he’s a

good leader. He also has good quickness and is an athlete back there,

so he can make things happen by running the ball. He probably has

more ability to create than some other guys we’ve had in the past. He

could be as good as I’ve had in my 17 years here.”

Sophomore Kasey Peters, who guided the freshman team’s offense

last fall and played briefly in the Sailors’ first playoff game

(throwing one incompletion) is the front-runner as the backup.

Junior Michael Green, who quarterbacked the junior varsity league

champions last season, is also in the mix.

Running backs: Dartangan Johnson has added 15 pounds of muscle and

increased his quickness after amassing 1,870 yards and scoring 15 TDs

as a junior last season. With 2,005 career rushing yards, he needs

just 696 to surpass Steve Brazas (2,700 yards in 1982-83) as the

school’s career rushing leader.

He rushed for at least 100 yards nine times last season, including

a school-record four 200-yard outputs, en route to earning first-team

all-league honors and being named the Newport-Mesa Offensive Player

of the Year.

Johnson was quick to credit his talented and experienced offensive

line for his success last season and he may have to make more

tacklers miss behind a smaller, less experienced group this fall.

“He could be the top rusher in the history of the school, which is

saying something,” Brinkley said. “He has more size, speed,

experience and confidence this year. He worked very hard in the

offseason and he’s a great practice player. He can also catch the

ball for us (he had seven receptions for 48 yards in 2001).

Hopefully, he can have a great year for us.”

In addition to his offensive burden, Johnson is slated to start at

free safety.

“He’ll just have to carry the load,” Brinkley said of his double

duty. “It’s no different than (former two-way standouts) Chris

Manderino and Brett Baker have done.”

Senior Rhett Hatsfield (6-3, 195) will start at fullback and also

see some time at tailback. He fills the role left vacant by Dave

Erickson, who started six games at fullback last year as a junior,

but is out of the season with a back injury. Erickson also started

three games at outside linebacker and was a potential two-way

contributor this year.

Hartsfield, who transferred from Santa Cruz after his sophomore

year, collected 211 rushing yards and two TDs last season on 52

carries. Brinkley, who has typically utilized his fullbacks as

blockers, said Hartsfield’s running ability may allow him to

diversify the position this season.

“We’ll probably give him a few more carries than our fullbacks in

the past,” Brinkley said.

Junior Matt Encinias, a returning starter on defense and a former

freshman standout back, as well as sophomore Spencer Link, who

starred in the freshman backfield a year ago, provide quality depth

at tailback.

Converted guard Chase Brawner, sophomores Thomas Martin and Trevor

Theriot, as well as junior Peter Hoyt, are the backups at fullback.

Receivers: The top four pass catchers from last season have either

moved on (Brian Gaeta to Colorado State, Adam Kerns to Puget Sound,

and Jon Vandersloot) or switched positions (McDonald), leaving a wide

berth of opportunity.

Senior Mike Toole (three catches for 26 yards and a TD) has

stepped forward to claim one starting spot, while Link is penciled

into the other, as he bides his time for a bright future at tailback.

“Toole gives us vertical speed and Link was one of the brighter

spots we had during the summer,” Brinkley said. “We need to get Link

the ball in space, because he has a little shake. And he has become a

good route runner.”

Seniors Jordan Smith, Ben Soza and Bryce Sawyer, the latter two

slated to start at cornerback, will also be passing targets.

Tight end: Senior Paul Thoman (6-1, 209) was recruited from the

volleyball program and his athleticism has lost little in the

translation, according to Brinkley. He played football as a freshman,

before opting for the sidelines, so he is not altogether new to the

sport.

“He’s playing hard right now and I like what we’re getting out of

him,” Brinkley said.

Sophomore Taylor Young and senior Fernando Castorena provide depth

here.

Offensive line: Two-time All-CIF tackle Robert Chai has moved on

to UCLA, while two-year starters Jeff Marshall (Montana) and Bryan

Breland (now an assistant freshman coach) have also handed down their

jerseys to up and comers.

A.J. Slater, a 6-5, 270-pound senior, started seven games at left

guard last season when not sidelined by back trouble. He shifts into

Chai’s shoes at left tackle this season and is drawing plenty of

interest from college recruiters.

Chris Badorek, a 6-4, 290-pound senior who made 12 starts at three

positions last season, will start at right tackle and also has

potential to play collegiately.

Senior Jack Skahen (5-9, 225) takes over at center and junior Nick

Watkins (6-3, 258) moves up from the JV to assume the right guard

spot.

Brinkley said junior Eric Curtis (5-11, 203) and senior Alfredo

Cruz (5-7, 201) are battling for the nod at left guard.

“Those guys have their work cut out for them (trying to live up

to) some pretty good offensive lines we’ve had the last couple

years,” Brinkley said. “But they’re working hard and I’ve told them a

lot of our success, offensively, will depend on how well they

progress as a group.”

Senior Blake Adams (center), junior Daniel Packham (guard) and

junior Paul Camerzell (tackle) are the leading backups.

Defensive line: No starters return in the four-man wall, but

senior Shahan Mouradyan (6-0, 190) brings some experience at end,

where he is slated to start. Senior Mac Posey (6-1, 170), who also

saw action as a backup last season, is battling Hartsfield for the

other starting job at end.

Junior Austin Nieto (5-9, 202) and Brawner, a 6-1, 215-pound

senior, are the projected starters at tackle and both contribute to

the smaller, but more mobile theme Brinkley said could be a plus.

“All those guys can run,” Brinkley said.

Cruz and senior Tommy Carroll (6-0, 220) are the primary backups.

Linebackers: Encinias (5-9, 161) earned All-Newport-Mesa honors

while starting 11 games at outside ‘backer as a sophomore. His 67

tackles ranked third on a defense that finished No. 2 (behind Mission

Viejo) among Orange County schools in scoring defense last fall.

Encinias also had an interception.

“He’s a tough kid who has improved a lot and become more confident

at the position,” Brinkley said.

Hoyt (6-1, 199) is projected to start at the other outside spot,

while Castorena (5-11, 214) steps into the featured middle linebacker

role.

Depth is not a problem here, according to Brinkley, who lists

Martin, Theriot, Young, Greg Miner, Shawn Rowe and Jimmy Sanchez as

potential options.

Secondary: McDonald had five interceptions and was a second-team

all-league pick at safety last fall, but will see only spot duty

(mostly passing situations) this year, in order to better focus on

his quarterback responsibilities. Johnson will start in his free

safety spot.

Junior strong safety Warren Junowich, who started 12 games as a

sophomore, returns to anchor the group.

His 52 tackles were fifth-most on the team last season and his

aggressiveness is a big reason why Brinkley said the secondary’s

physical play stood out in early fall workouts.

“The first two days of pads, those guys back there were the most

impressive we had in terms of striking people,” Brinkley said.

Sawyer, who had one interception last season, as well as Soza,

will open at cornerback, where Toole and senior Brian Campos should

also see action.

Smith and sophomore Alex Orth provide depth at safety.

Kicking game: Campos should handle punting and kicking chores and

senior Bobby Jacklin is a long-snapping specialist.

Johnson, Encinias and Link top a group of talented kick returners.