Newport aims for victory No. 2

Patrick Laverty

After a convincing 35-8 victory over CIF Southern Section Division II

representative Trabuco Hills in its football season opener, Newport

Harbor High comes back with a game against CIF Division I

representative Marina and Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley isn’t worried

about complacency.

“I think our guys know what kind of program Marina’s got and what

they bring,” said Brinkley, whose unit is ranked No. 6 in CIF

Southern Section Division VI.

The Vikings (1-0 after a 12-0 triumph over Paramount) play host to

the Sailors (1-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at Westminster High. Marina will

actually bring quite a different look from last season, when the

Sailors prevailed, 23-14. Coach Mike Dodd’s Vikings have switched to

the shotgun formation as their primary offense, in an attempt to take

advantage of the skills of senior quarterback Matt Brennan.

It isn’t the run-and-shoot -- Marina huddles after every play and

won’t spread the field with four receivers -- but it does allow

Brennan more time to use his strong right arm.

“He can definitely throw it downfield,” Brinkley said. “He threw

one 55 or 60 yards and, even though it fell incomplete, it was a good

pass.”

The offense is actually quite similar to the one Trabuco Hills ran

last week. The Mustangs often lined up in a single-back formation

with three wide receivers.

In the backfield for Marina will likely be Jason Burch, a wideout

who replaced injured running back Walter Hildebrand and ran for 121

yards on 20 carries. Burch reminded Brinkley of Newport Harbor junior

Spencer Link, a small, speedy, athletic type.

Of course, the Vikings are familiar with Link, who returned a punt

57 yards for a touchdown last season against Marina and also caught

an 8-yard touchdown pass as the Sailors overcame a 14-7 halftime

deficit.

Marina will present a challenge for Link to add to his scoring

total because of its size up front.

“It’s going to be a physical test for our offensive line,”

Brinkley said. “[Quarterback] Kasey [Peters] had a little pressure a

couple times [against Trabuco Hills], which I think we need to cure.”

Despite the pressure, Peters was sacked just twice against Trabuco

Hills.

Senior tailback Matt Encinias, who rushed for 120 yards last week,

will force the Vikings to be honest on defense.

Encinias will also play a key role in the Sailors’ secondary when

Brennan attempts to throw. Last week, Newport Harbor allowed Trabuco

Hills quarterback Alex Aubel to compete just 8 of 20 passes for 117

yards and Matt Erickson came away with an interception.

Newport Harbor’s defensive line will be without senior defensive

end Peter Hoyt, who broke his hand in the season-opening victory.

Hoyt forced a fumble and assisted on a fourth-down tackle at the goal

line in the victory over Trabuco Hills. Junior Sean Rowe is expected

to start in Hoyt’s place. Rowe played significantly in the opener,

also contributing during the Sailors’ goal-line stand and adding a

tackle for a loss.