Newport’s big guns are being reloaded

Barry Faulkner

Entering his 25th season as a prep head coach, his 17th at the

helm of Newport Harbor High’s Sailors, Jeff Brinkley, by far the

winningest football coach in Newport-Mesa history, has been around

long enough to be considered a throwback.

But with two CIF Southern Section championships, three other

section runner-up finishes and two additional trips to the section

semifinals during the last 10 seasons, there has been nothing

backward about the run of success Brinkley’s Sailors have enjoyed.

And, despite the presence of just three returning starters on

offense and two on defense, there is much to indicate the Tars will

proceed full speed ahead through the 2002 campaign, which opens Sept.

12 at Trabuco Hills.

After back-to-back Division VI title-game appearances in 1999 (the

school’s second CIF crown with the first coming in 1994) and 2000,

Brinkley’s boys were defeated in overtime in the semifinals last

season by La Mirada, 13-10, to finish 10-2-1.

There were, however, no additional losses on the lower levels as

both the junior varsity and freshman teams went unbeaten to match the

varsity’s Sea View League championship. The three-level league sweep

is believed to be unprecedented in the school’s rich 71-season

football tradition and bodes well for the reloading theory most have

ascribed to Brinkley’s program the last decade.

“The younger guys have been pretty successful and we know we have

some good football players there,” Brinkley said. “But it’s always a

little different when they adjust to the varsity level, which is a

little more sophisticated.”

Sophistication has never been the watchword of Brinkley’s

offensive system, which aspires annually to run-pass balance, but has

been at its most potent with a single tailback darting and driving

behind an offensive line occupied by bruising technicians.

Dartangan Johnson fulfilled the former role last season as a

junior, coming within 130 yards of becoming the Sailors’ third

straight 2,000-yard single-season rusher (following Chris Manderino

in 2000 and the late Andre Stewart in 1999).

Johnson, now more physically mature (15 pounds heavier than last

fall at 195), brings the experience of 330 varsity carries, 300 of

which came last season, when he produced 1,870 yards and 15

touchdowns. Johnson also brings determination to become the school’s

career rushing leader. With 2,005 yards in varsity action, Johnson

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

the school’s No. 1 ground gainer.

Johnson, as well as lightly seasoned senior quarterback Michael

McDonald, who takes over for decorated two-year starter Morgan Craig,

and returning line starters Chris Badorek (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) and

A.J. Slater (6-5, 270), are the known quantities on offense.

McDonald, who started at receiver and safety last season, but will

likely focus on leading the offense this fall, is the son of former

USC and NFL quarterback Paul McDonald. In limited action in the

pocket the last two seasons, McDonald has completed 17 of 22 pass

attempts for 214 yards and three TDs. He has yet to throw a varsity

interception and Brinkley, the offensive coordinator who works

closely with the quarterbacks, believes McDonald’s mental grasp of

the position and physical gifts may be the best package he has seen

during his tenure at the school.

“We have pretty good skill people,” Brinkley said. “Obviously

Dartangan can run the ball very well and I’m very confident with the

way (McDonald) throws it. I feel as good about those guys as any

running back and quarterback we’ve had. We just need to see how the

offensive line progresses.”

That progress will be monitored most closely by veteran assistant

coach Mike Bargas, who takes over tutoring the offensive line from

Zach Biehl, who is now at Santa Ana College. Bargas, who coached the

defensive line the last several seasons, is no stranger to offensive

techniques, having played up front for the Sailors and also coached

the hole punchers, including during the 1994 CIF title campaign.

Another change in the coaching staff involves the return of Tony

Ciarelli, who resumes control of the defense he left to secondary

coach Evan Chalmers after the 1996 season. Ciarelli resigned after

five seasons as head coach at Huntington Beach High and was quickly

reenlisted by Brinkley, who said the respected leader has picked up

where he left off.

Ciarelli’s group features little experience, with only Matt

Encinias, a junior outside linebacker, and Warren Junowich, a junior

strong safety, returning in the same positions they manned last fall.

Senior Fernando Castorena (5-11, 214) steps into the middle

linebacking role which has produced the Newport-Mesa Defensive Player

of the Year each of the last three seasons (Cory Ray last fall and

Alan Saenz the previous two).

The Sailors were second in Orange County in scoring defense a year

ago (about nine points per game), but must completely retool their

front seven. Brinkley, however, likes the speed the defense

possesses.

The Sailors will be among those expected to win the Sea View this

year, though Foothill, coming off a 10-2 season and a runner-up

finish in the Century League, is another favorite. The two square off

in Week 10 (Nov. 14) at Tustin High.