Sailors’ depth tested

Barry Faulkner

There have been recent high school football seasons when the

Newport Harbor trainer has seen about as much action as Brett Favre’s

backup.

Such is not the case this fall, as Sailors trainer Brian Melstrom,

his assistants, as well as other medical personnel, have dealt with a

laundry list of injuries that have forced Coach Jeff Brinkley to

continually juggle the depth chart.

The growing list of victims added kicker Brian Campos, who rolled

an ankle by landing on a tee while warming up before Friday’s 35-6

Sea View League-opening victory over Aliso Niguel.

Senior fullback Rhett Hartsfield (groin/abdominal pull), junior

noseguard Austin Nieto (recurring back spasms), junior outside

linebacker Peter Hoyt (hyper-extended knee) and senior tight end Paul

Toman (concussion) have all been knocked from the starting lineup at

various points this season, though Nieto, Hoyt and Toman have all

returned to action.

Senior Jordan Smith, a reserve receiver and safety, is out for the

season with a broken ankle, reserve safety Alex Orth is still on the

mend from a dislocated shoulder and sophomore receiver Matt Erickson

is out after breaking his collarbone against Aliso.

Backup lineman Alfredo Cruz has missed time with an ankle sprain

and starting receiver Mike Toole has stepped in on defense for a

former starting cornerback who will not play the rest of the year.

Yet, the Sailors (5-1, 1-0 in league), ranked No. 3 in CIF

Southern Section Division VI and No. 10 in Orange County, continue to

roll up victories. The win over Aliso was the Tars’ fifth straight

after a season-opening loss at Trabuco Hills. It was also the Tars’

seventh straight home win and their eighth straight Sea View League

victory.

The Aliso triumph continued a trend of offensive balance, as the

Sailors enter Thursday’s 7 p.m. road date against perennial nemesis

Irvine with a near equal distribution of yards with the run (979) and

the pass (993).

Senior tailback Dartangan Johnson added 173 rushing yards and

three TDs to his impressive career totals, operating behind an

offensive line that Brinkley believes continues to make significant

progress.

Johnson is now just 76 yards from breaking the school career

rushing record of 2,700 yards, set by Steve Brazas in 1982-83.

“The offensive line really got off the ball the other night,”

Brinkley said of tackles A.J. Slater and Chris Badorek, guards Eric

Curtis and Nick Watkins and center Jack Shahen. “I told them during

our film session (Saturday) they showed a real big improvement. It

was similar to watching the really good offensive lines we have had

in years past.”

While the offense continues to click, including quarterback

Michael McDonald, who threw for 165 yards and one TD against the

Wolverines, Brinkley also had recurring praise for his defense.

The Sailors, who have allowed just 52 points all season, fourth

fewest in Orange County, lost a shutout on a 62-yard fourth-quarter

scoring pass, after the starters had been removed from the game.

The Sailors surrendered just 80 rushing yards to the Wolverines,

including three quarterback sacks, and Newport intercepted three

passes. The interceptions, by cornerback Ben Soza, middle linebacker

Fernando Castorena and backup middle linebacker Thomas Martin,

surpassed the total the Tars had accumulated their first five games

combined (two).

In addition to two fumble recoveries, Harbor collected five

turnovers against Aliso, upping the Sailors’ turnover ratio for the

season to plus-four.