Back to business

Barry Faulkner

The thrill is gone.

At least that’s what Newport Harbor High football players and

coaches would have you believe as they prepare for tonight’s 7

o’clock kickoff against nonleague visitor Dana Hills.

One might expect the Sailors to still be savoring the satisfaction

that came with Friday’s 17-0 victory, before 6,000, over a highly

regarded Corona del Mar team that just happens to be its biggest

rival. It was the second straight victory for Newport (2-1), ranked

No. 3 in CIF Southern Section Division VI, after a disappointing

season-opening loss to Trabuco Hills.

But senior middle linebacker Fernando Castorena said the euphoria

halted Saturday morning, when the Tars began preparing for the

Dolphins (1-2), in what Coach Jeff Brinkley terms “a short week.”

“We enjoyed the (CdM win) Friday night, but Saturday, we were

watching film on Dana Hills,” Castorena said.

It hasn’t exactly been a highlight reel for the South Coast League

representative, which appears to be adjusting slowly to the system

brought from Arizona by first-year coach Mike Reardon.

The Dolphins, who earned a 14-6 victory over Woodbridge after

dropping their opener, 35-3, to Lakewood, were trounced by Foothill,

49-6, last week. What’s more, the Dolphins have only one offensive

touchdown this fall and have fumbled 16 times in three games, though

losing just six.

Kickoff returns of 95 yards (against Woodbridge) and 93 yards

(against Foothill) have accounted for roughly two-thirds of their 23

points this season and their offense is averaging just fewer than 103

yards per game.

This does not bode well against a Harbor defense that appears to

have figured things out, after opening the season with just two

returning starters. The Sailors held a previously productive CdM

running game to minus-1 yard in the second half last week and just 83

for the game. The Sea Kings added just 24 passing yards to that total

as Harbor, which has been among the Orange County leaders in scoring

defense the last three seasons, posted its first shutout of the

campaign.

Newport’s offense appears also to have regained the efficiency it

lacked in the first two games, particularly in the running game.

The Sailors rushed for 189 yards last week, including 144 by

senior tailback Dartangan Johnson, against a solid CdM defense.

But Brinkley is anything but satisfied.

“We need to keep improving and, hopefully, build off what we’ve

done the last couple weeks,” Brinkley said. “Our (Sea View) league is

looking awfully tough, so we’ve got to keep getting better. We still

need to eliminate some mistakes and be as technically sound as we

can. And, hopefully, we can keep playing hard.”

Johnson continues to drive hard toward the school career rushing

record held by Steve Brazas (2,700 yards set in 1982-83). Johnson’s

225 yards this season give him 2,230 for his varsity career. He also

has 17 career touchdowns, after scoring his first of the season last

week.

The Harbor running game, however, is still playing catch-up with

the passing game, triggered by senior quarterback Michael McDonald.

McDonald is 32 of 63 for 443 yards this fall, with two TDs and three

interceptions.

Sophomore Spencer Link (10 catches for 159 yards and two TDs) and

Mike Toole (eight catches for 142 yards) have been McDonald’s primary

targets.

Trevor Walls, a 5-foot-7 senior, has completed 19 of 57 passes for

189 yards thus far for Dana Hills. But he has thrown four

interceptions and has yet to throw a TD pass.

Joel Martin, a 5-8, 175-pound senior, is the leading ground gainer

for the Dolphins (113 yards, including a 49-yard TD run, on 27

carries).

Martin and senior Brett Shirozono have scored on kickoff returns

and Alan Gantes has two interceptions for a defense surrendering 30

points per game.

It’s the third of five straight home games for Newport, which has

won 14 of its last 15 at its own stadium, 23 of its last 25.

The Tars have won both previous meetings with Dana Hills.