CRUNCH TIME

Patrick Laverty

After three straight losses to open Sea View League play, Newport

Harbor High’s football team put itself back in position to make the

playoffs for the fifth straight season and 14th time in Jeff

Brinkley’s 18 seasons at the school by overcoming a 14-3 halftime

deficit to defeat Laguna Hills last week.

But as important as that victory was, it will mean little if the

Sailors (6-3, 1-3 in league) cannot defeat Woodbridge at home Friday

at 7 p.m.

A victory over the Warriors (2-7, 1-3) would likely assure Harbor

of the at-large berth in the CIF Southern Section Division VI

playoffs. A loss could mean the end of the season.

“If we win this week, I’d be shocked if weren’t the at-large

team,” Brinkley said. “We would have the best record, coming out of a

tough league and we will have won our last two games.”

Despite Woodbridge’s record and the Sailors recent success against

the Warriors -- Harbor has won the last four meetings by a combined

score of 133-29 -- the second of those wins might be tougher than

expected.

Woodbridge has played well in league, defeating Laguna Hills by

four points, the same margin as the Sailors’ victory over the Hawks.

Brinkley said his players are aware of the task that lies ahead.

“They know this is the one game,” Brinkley said. “They realize we

always want to be part of the playoffs. They know it’s down to one

game.”

The Warriors will test Newport Harbor with their passing game.

Woodbridge quarterback Mike Anderson is averaging 210 yards per game

through the air and has thrown 15 touchdown passes.

“They come out winging it,” Brinkley sad. “He throws it all over

the yard.”

It will be a test for a secondary that includes senior cornerbacks

Matt Encinias and Brian Campos, sophomore strong safety Ryan Rippon

and free safeties Alex Orth and James Coder. The Sailors allowed two

touchdown passes in the first half to Laguna Hills before holding the

Hawks scoreless over the final two quarters.

Woodbridge will spread the field -- similar to what Harbor saw

with Foothill and Irvine earlier this season, Brinkley said -- but

throw more than either of those teams.

Harbor will attempt to pressure Anderson, not the most mobile

quarterback, with a front four of ends Saami Khalifian and Peter

Hoyt, as well as tackles Mark Temple and Austin Nieto.

If the Warriors are able to put points on the board, a Sailor

offense that hasn’t scored more than 20 points in the last three

games will need to keep pace.

Sophomore quarterback Tom Jackson now has two starts under his

belt in place of injured junior Kasey Peters, out for the season with

a broken collarbone. Jackson led last week’s comeback by completing 7

of 8 passes in the second half and running for the game-winning

3-yard touchdown.

Jackson also seemed to find a comfort zone with junior receiver

Spencer Link, who had six catches for 99 yards last week and now has

44 catches for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

Senior tailback Matt Encinias, who has rushed for 1,128 yards this season, had his lowest output of the season (51 yards) last week as

Laguna Hills concentrated on shutting down the run. He should find an

easier go of things against a Woodbridge defense that is allowing

38.5 points per game in league play.