Seven Sailors all-league

Patrick Laverty

Newport Harbor High, the only Newport-Mesa team to reach the CIF

Southern Section football playoffs, placed four players on the

All-Sea View League first team and three others on the second team.

The Sailors, who finished 7-4 after a first-round loss to eventual

Division VI champion Los Altos, are represented on the first team by

senior running back Matt Encinias, junior receiver Spencer Link,

junior linebacker Thomas Martin and senior lineman Mark Temple.

Encinias, a three-year starter on defense who played running back

for the first time since he was a freshman, was the second-leading

rusher in the Newport-Mesa area, gaining 1,308 yards and scoring nine

touchdowns. He also played admirably at cornerback after starting at

linebacker his sophomore and junior seasons.

Link, the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Player of the Year, put fear

into opponents every time he touched the ball. He caught 53 passes

for 945 yards and 13 touchdowns and didn’t miss a beat even when

starting quarterback Kasey Peters went down with a collarbone injury

and was replaced by sophomore Tom Jackson.

Martin was the team’s leading tackler as the middle linebacker and

also provided depth in the offensive backfield, often coming in for

short-yardage situations.

Temple was a pleasant surprise on both the offensive and defensive

line. His most productive work came as a run stopper as one of the

Sailors’ defensive tackles.

Newport Harbor’s second-team picks include senior offensive tackle

Nick Watkins. A returning starter, he was a constant among the front

five, opening holes for Encinias and protecting Peters and Jackson.

Sophomore strong safety Ryan Rippon, another second-team honoree,

emerged as a standout in the secondary and should see increased

playing time on offense next season, likely as a tailback.

Junior Trevor Theriot, another second-team choice, was a strong

asset at outside linebacker and fullback and should provide the

Sailors with a solid base on both sides of the ball next season.

The Sea View League Offensive MVP honors went to Irvine junior

running back Jamaal Villa.

Foothill senior defensive back Brandon Baricuatro is the Defensive

MVP.

Irvine, Foothill and Aliso Niguel shared the league crown.