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.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.