Matt Encinias

Patrick Laverty

Newport Harbor High senior tailback Matt Encinias knows who will have

to pick up the slack after a season-ending injury to junior

quarterback Kasey Peters.

But he isn’t resting on his laurels, even if he is coming off his

best game of the season.

Encinias has actually picked up the pace, putting in extra running

to help with his stamina in the hope that Newport Harbor Coach Jeff

Brinkley hands him the ball even more with Peters unable to play.

“I hope Coach recognizes that,” Encinias said “I’m working my butt

off as much as I can.”

Brinkley not only recognized it, but pointed out that Encinias’

work ethic is one of his biggest assets.

“He’s a real tough kid, a very tough kid,” Brinkley said. “This

year, his work ethic has even improved more. This year he’s worked

exceptionally hard. He’s one of those guys that maximizes his

ability.”

His toughness was shown during his sophomore year, when he played

linebacker with a broken wrist, telling no one of the injury, simply

taping it up each game.

His work ethic, which he has displayed throughout his years in

athletics, has helped him make the transition from linebacker to

cornerback this year as well as his move back to running back, which

he had waited since his freshman year to return to.

His ability was firmly on display Friday, in the Sailors’ loss to

Aliso Niguel.

Encinias carried the ball 27 times for 203 yards and a touchdown.

He returned a punt for a would-be score, but it was called back

because of a penalty. Playing cornerback and returning kickoffs as

well, he rarely came off the field.

But in spite of all that, the Sailors lost.

“I can’t take personal satisfaction because we’ve worked so hard,

it’s really upsetting we didn’t win,” he said.

Still, he was happy with the way he played, finally feeling

comfortable at tailback, making cutbacks that allowed for a 54-yard

touchdown run and gaining four or more yards on 16 of his 27 carries.

“My dad and I were talking about that,” Encinias said. “It’s hard

to go back to running back. [The last two years], I worked with the

running backs, but I never got a snap until my senior year. After

this game, I really felt more comfortable.”

Comfort isn’t exactly the word of choice around the Sailors

football program right now. Though Encinias has appeared in the CIF

Southern Section playoffs three straight years after being called up

to return kickoffs his freshman season, Harbor is in danger of

missing the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

Harbor (5-2, 0-2 in Sea View League play) closes out the season

against Irvine, Laguna Hills and Woodbridge, but injuries have taken

their toll on the Sailors.

“With Kasey out and our left guard [Eric Curtis] out, my goal is

just to win these three game. I really hope we do,” Encinias said.

That desire to win is what pushed Encinias to play with a broken

wrist when he was a sophomore. The wrist required a cast for nine

months after the season, showing the severity of the injury, but

Encinias doesn’t regret the decision.

“I didn’t want to look back in 10 years and wish I would have

played,” Encinias said.

He doesn’t want to look back at his senior year either and think

of what might have been. Newport Harbor is a play or two away from

being 7-0 and despite two consecutive losses, Encinias isn’t about to

let his senior season slip away.

“This is my three weeks,” Encinias said. “This is my year.”