Sailors rally without halftime rant

Barry Faulkner

In a sport famous for halftime pep talks, what remains unsaid

between the second and third quarters in the Newport Harbor High

football locker room typically proves more inspirational than more

classically composed, vein-bulging verbiage.

So, whether tied, ahead or even behind, composure overrules the

roar that pervades most halftime confabs, as adjustments usurp

adjectives and determination drowns out decibels.

“Our coaches aren’t a bunch of yellers and screamers like you see

a lot of times on TV, or in the movies,” Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley

said. “I think our players understand the importance of third-quarter

momentum. A lot of people can get fired up for the beginning of the

game, but whoever establishes the momentum to start the third quarter

is usually going to be most successful (on the scoreboard).”

This thinking, once again, proved out for the Sailors, who, after

playing a scoreless half against Back Bay rival Corona del Mar,

dominated the final 24 minutes to come away with a 17-0 triumph

Friday before an estimated overflow crowd of 6,000 at Newport Harbor.

For the second straight game, the Sailors came out clicking after

intermission. They scored on their first possession ( a 24-yard Brian

Campos field goal) after a nine-play procession that began on their

own 33-yard line. They then dominated on defense, including a fumble

recovery that led to the game’s first touchdown, scored on the first

play of the fourth quarter.

The Sailors (2-1), who had gained only 163 rushing yards their

first two games, unleashed 142 second-half rushing yards on a stout

Sea King defense, including 106 by senior tailback Dartangan Johnson.

Senior quarterback Michael McDonald also threw for 64 of his 94

passing yards after halftime, with senior receiver Mike Toole hauling

in second-half aerials for gains of 26 and 34 yards.

With tackles A.J. Slater and Chris Badorek, guards Eric Curtis and

Nick Watkins, center Jack Skahen, tight end Taylor Young and fullback

Rhett Hartsfield leading the way, Newport’s offense cashed in Mac

Posey’s aforementioned fumble recovery with a seven-play, 37-yard

march capped when Hartsfield plunged over the pile at the goal line

to help create a 10-0 lead with 11:58 left in the game.

After Harbor’s subsequent possession ended with an interception at

the CdM 1, the Tars went 61 yards on six plays to rule out all

comeback bids.

Johnson opened the series with a 19-yard burst off left tackle,

then added gains of 14, 7 and 7, before capping the drive with an

8-yard touchdown sprint up the middle with 2:08 left.

It capped a breakthrough performance for Johnson, who came into

the game averaging just 3.2 yards on 25 carries this fall, after

averaging exactly double that on 330 attempts his first two varsity

seasons.

Newport Harbor’s defense was, perhaps, more impressive that its

offense, especially after halftime. CdM managed just 12 second-half

yards, including minus-1 on the ground.

Second-half sacks by senior noseguard Austin Nieto, who missed

most of the first half with a nagging back injury, junior outside

linebacker Peter Hoyt and Posey, helped keep CdM’s ground game in

negative numbers after intermission. Senior middle linebacker

Fernando Castorena also made two of his three tackles for losses in

the final two quarters.

Linemen Shahan Mouradyan (a first-half fumble recovery), Chase

Brawner and Alfredo Cruz, outside ‘backer Matt Encinias, cornerbacks

Bryce Sawyer and Ben Soza, as well as safeties Warren Junowich and

Johnson also helped secure the shutout, the Sailors first against CdM

since 1991.

Brinkley said the defensive unit, which returned only two starters

from last season, has benefited greatly from its early season

experience.

“I think those guys just needed some game experience,” Brinkley

said. “We always tell players football is the ultimate team sport and

the more they play together as a unit, get a feel for one another and

develop their own personality as a defense, the better they are going

to be. That’s an exciting thing to shut someone out.”

The shutout was pervasive for the Sailors, who defeated the CdM

junior varsity, 26-0, and won the freshman Battle of the Bay, 6-0.

Newport has a short week of preparation before hosting Dana Hills

(1-2) in a nonleague game Thursday at 7 p.m.