Bravehearts

Patrick Laverty

One of the keys for Newport Harbor in its first-round playoff game

against top-seeded Los Altos will be getting protection from its

offensive line. If they simply repeat their performance against

Woodbridge, everything should be OK.

The Sailors piled up more than 450 yards of offense in a 42-13

drubbing of Woodbridge Friday as the offensive line opened holes for

205 yards worth of rushing and prevented any sacks on the

quarterback, allowing for 257 yards through the air.

Newport Harbor’s front five, consisting of senior left tackle Nick

Watkins (6-foot-3, 244 pounds), senior left guard Mark Temple (5-11,

220), senior center Daniel Packham (5-11, 212), junior right guard

Stephen Joslin (6-1, 256) and senior right tackle Paul Camerzell

(6-2, 270), don’t get the headlines that the quarterback, running

back and receiver do, but they make everything those players

accomplish possible.

Watkins entered the season, along with 5-10, 209-pound left guard

Eric Curtis, as the lone returning starters on the offensive line.

Slotted next to each other on the left side, Watkins and Curtis

proved a more than formidable duo, but Curtis suffered a high ankle

sprain during the Sea View League season and has missed the last few

games. He is expected to return to the starting lineup this week

though.

Temple has been playing left guard while Curtis has been out and

has proved invaluable all season, moving from one spot along the line

to another. Also a standout at defensive tackle, Temple also started

at right guard earlier this season.

Packham has been a constant in the middle of the five-man front

and didn’t miss a beat when the Sailors changed quarterbacks

midstream after Kasey Peters went down with an injury.

On the right side, Joslin worked his way into the starting lineup

only to see his season temporarily halted with an ankle injury

earlier this season. Healthy again, he has solidified the right guard

position.

Another constant has been the play of Camerzell at tackle. The

biggest member of the offensive line has done a strong job of opening

holes in the right side.

The seventh and final member of this group has been 6-1, 218-pound

junior Ellery Murphy, who has started at right guard and provided

relief at other spot throughout the season.

Because of the work of these seven players, Newport Harbor’s

running backs, quarterback and receivers post the stats that they do.

Without the offensive line, none of that would be possible.