Tars make themselves at home

Barry Faulkner

Newport Harbor High football coach Jeff Brinkley isn’t the type to

park in a favorite easy chair, nor would one likely find him idling

away any fall afternoon perched on his porch.

But after the Sailors defeated nonleague visitor Marina, 23-14,

Friday, Brinkley was able to assume what has arguably become his

favorite position during football, or, perhaps, any other season.

After shaking hands with the opposing coaches, as well as some

congratulatory boosters, former players and fellow Harbor staff

members, Brinkley stood roughly around where the west 20-yard line

meets the north hash marks, awaiting questions from a reporter and

surveying the celebration that regularly envelops the Davidson Field

playing surface after a Sailor victory.

Friday, the location was about 15 yards away from where his

players convened to raise their helmets in unison and empty their

lungs of whatever emotion remained after the hard-fought triumph. It

was also, if Brinkley were so inclined, a fine vantage point for a

little advance talent scouting of the scores of small children who

spilled out onto the grass, darting and dashing under a shower of toy

footballs.

It was, Brinkley would later note, good to be home.

“It’s such a different atmosphere (at Newport Harbor),” Brinkley

said. “I told the coaches I could already feel it during pregame: the

big crowd and the excitement. One of our coaches’ wives said she got

there close to kickoff and could barely find a seat.”

The Sailors (1-1) kicked off a rare five-game homestand by

rallying past the Vikings (1-1), helping them settle in for what they

hope is a long, successful stretch, before boarding a bus for an Oct.

24 Sea View League game at Irvine High.

As familiar as the surroundings, according to Brinkley, was the

fashion in which is team pursued victory, a win that enabled Newport

to avert the program’s first 0-2 start since 1982.

“I thought we showed much more the style of play we’re known for,”

Brinkley said. The kids played with much more enthusiasm than the

week before (a season-opening loss at Trabuco Hills).”

Brinkley said the difference was most notable on defense, where

the Tars executed the plan to contain the Marina veer option attack,

as well as scrambling quarterback Matt Brennan.

“I thought our defensive coaches did a good job of coming up with

a plan and the kids really responded and executed it,” Brinkley said.

“(The Vikings’) only scores came on a long (77-yard) pass play and a

freak fumble recovery (after a Harbor interception).”

Offensively, the Sailors took advantage of a sloughing Marina

secondary, as senior quarterback Michael McDonald completed 18 of 23,

most within 8 yards of the line of scrimmage, for 177 yards without

an interception. Included in that total was an 8-yard TD toss to

Spencer Link, which capped an 15-play, 91-yard drive that ate nearly

seven minutes off the fourth-quarter clock and all but clinched the

win.

“I thought Mike threw for a high percentage and played within the

system,” said Brinkley, who also liked the fact that McDonald

completed passes to six different receivers.

Eight different Sailors have receptions in two games, a stat

Brinkley likes.

“It’s nice not to have one go-to guy (defenses) can load up on,”

Brinkley said.

An addition to that receiving corps Friday was sophomore tight end

Taylor Young, who started in place of Paul Toman (sidelined with a

concussion).

Senior strong safety Jordan Smith also made his first start

Friday, filling in for Warren Junowich, who missed much of the week

due to illness. Junowich, however, came in to replace Smith, who left

late in the third quarter with what Brinkley called a sprained left

ankle.

No other injuries were reported as the Sailors prepare to host

crosstown rival Corona del Mar Friday in the 41st Battle of the Bay.