Battle of the Bay’s 41st year

Brent Ogden Jr.

So here we are again! Another warm September Friday night with the

mighty Corona del Mar High Sea Kings taking on the vaunted Newport

Harbor Sailors in another classical high school football game

matchup. And, oh, the stories and the history this fall football

showdown has to tell!

This 41-year anniversary rivalry started back when the Corona del

Mar campus was built on a deserted outstretched bluff along the

southern Back Bay of Newport Beach. When the school opened in 1962,

lifelong friends were separated with the new redistricting of the

enrollment area. Since it was decided that both schools would play

each other for city bragging rights in all of the girls and boys

sports programs, the showdown began.

The first football game between the schools was won by Newport in

a hard fought game, 13-12. However, CdM came right back the following

year and trounced the heavily favored Sailors, 20-0, and so the

historical “Battle of the Bay” was born.

There was the classical 1992 games in which CdM beat Newport in

the regular season but lost to Harbor in the exciting CIF Southern

Section Division IV semifinal showdown at Davidson Field.

How about when CdM won its second of back-to-back CIF

championships in 1989, but lost to the Sailors in the Sea View

League’s final game.

Or, remember when Newport was undefeated and heavily favored in

1983, only to lose to CdM in the last game of the season? Legendary

CdM Coach Dave Holland called it one of his greatest victories.

The fact is, both schools have enjoyed outstanding success in

football with each capturing two CIF football championships. Many of

the players who played in this fall classic have gone on to star in

college football while several have even reached the NFL.

In my junior year (1971), we shut out the heavily favored Sailors,

21-0. Not to be outdone, Newport returned the favor the next year and

won, 31-3. Back then, Newport was anchored by Steve Bukich, Tim

Brown, Vinny Mulroy, Bucko Shaw, Brian Theriot and Warren Ray, while

CdM countered with Mike Frost, Mike Minna, Jim Garn, Brent Ogden, Joe

Porto, Steve Marowitz, and Jon Terry, just to name a few.

Over the years, many of these names have again resurfaced in the

Battle of the Bay. In tonight’s game, Ogden will again be facing off

against Theriot while Newport’s Bill Brown (father of Tim Brown) will

be coaching against CdM’s Bernie Terry (father of Jon Terry) and

Brent Ogden (father of Brent Ogden III). Sophomore Eric Ray (son of

Newport’s Warren Ray), will be in the trenches against CdM next year.

Throughout the years, “The Game” has been loyally covered by the

Daily Pilot. In the early years, sports editor Glenn White covered

the games followed by Roger Carlson. The ball has now been passed on

to Richard Dunn, the current sports editor whose staff includes Barry

Faulkner, Patrick Laverty, Steve Virgen and Bryce Alderton, who have

combined their efforts with continued coverage of this great classic.

For myself, I have enjoyed this rivalry for almost 35 years.

Having graduated from CdM in 1974, I played in all four football

classics. Back then, like now, most of the football players knew each

other. Having played back then in Pop Warner Football, and now with

Newport Beach’s Jr. All American Seahawks, all of the players have

enjoyed great success and built lifetime friendships, not only for

each other, but also for the parents involved. While Newport has its

“Coach B” with Coach Jeff Brinkley, CdM also has its own “Coach B” in

Ed Blanton, so the parallels continue.

The CdM-Newport connection also runs strong in our family. My

lifelong friend and business partner, Cody Small, graduated from

Newport Harbor and even my daughter, Breanne, is dating a great kid

from Newport. As a volunteer varsity football coach for CdM the past

17 years, I have witnessed many great moments and look forward to

this annual rivalry.

Tonight’s game features the talent of Newport Beach’s finest

athletes. I have watched many of these players grow up while playing

sports with my son, Brent III. I was the head football coach for many

of tonight’s “Prime Time” players, while guiding the Jr. All American

Seahawks to the playoffs in 1999 and 2000.

Will Matt Encinias again lead the charge, be it now against his

Seahawk teammates, on Newport’s offense? Will Trevor “Moose” Theriot

and Matt Erickson use all of my coaching and tackling techniques

against me? How about Kasey Peters? Will he follow the great

tradition of Newport Harbor quarterbacks and guide the Sailors to

more league championships and beyond over the next two years? Will

CdM’s talented twin brothers, Tom and Kevin Welch, power past

Newport’s defense while Wess Presson, Tyler Lance, and Zach

Wishengrad face off against Spencer Link and Alex Orth with their

fierce but friendly rivalry? The answer is yes to all of these

questions.

All I know is that in the next couple of years, the “Battle of the

Bay” will follow in the rich tradition of this great fall classic. I

just wish I could have all of “my” players back together again for

one last run. Oh, the power and glory this team would make! Bring on

Long Beach Poly, Los Alamitos, or Mater Dei, I’d stack my team

against anyone. Well, anyway, it’s always fun to dream a little ...

so enjoy tonight’s game. It will be a warrior’s battle to be sure.