Newport almost at full strength

Rick Devereux

The infirmary that was the Newport Harbor High football sidelines is

getting less and less crowded.

Receiver Spencer Link, the reigning Newport-Mesa Player of the

Year, is expected to play in his first game of the season after

sitting out with a shoulder injury.

All-Sea View League linebacker Thomas Martin has recovered from a

stomach ailment and is expected to start in tonight’s Battle of the

Bay against Corona del Mar (3-0).

Taylor Young, recovering from a broken ankle, played a few plays

at linebacker in last week’s 35-0 win over Marina.

The only major hold out remains running back Ryan Rippon, out for

six more weeks with knee ligament damage.

But Newport Harbor (2-0) has looked solid in its first two games,

particularly in the passing game with senior quarterback Kasey

Peters.

“Peters has played very well for us,” Coach Jeff Brinkley said.

“He has been in the system for a couple years and has been taking

what the defense gives us. Overall he is playing really well, even

though he had two bad luck interceptions in the first week.”

Peters has completed over 62% of his passes (27 for 42), including

a steady 11 for 18, three-touchdown performance against Marina.

Peters has spread the ball around and has confidence in Alex Orth

(nine receptions for 108 yards and one touchdown) and James Coder

(9-121, 3 TDs). With Link expected back, Peters will have three solid

receivers to throw to.

And when the defense backs off to defend the pass, the Sailors

still have the ability to run the ball. Sophomore Jasen Ruiz has

filled in for Rippon as the starting tailback, but Brinkley has used

fullback Trevor Theriot as the main ball carrier. Theriot leads the

team with 32 carries and 228 rushing yards.

“We’ve got Ruiz, who is capable of running the ball for us, and

Theriot,” Brinkley said. “I’ve always said you have to be able to run

the ball to be able to win.”

Brinkley said the offense will try to be as balanced as possible

against CdM’s 4-4 defense, and will have to wait and see if the Sea

Kings will try to stop Newport’s running or passing game.

“I’m not really sure what their thinking will be,” he said. “Their

defense is pretty balanced. They’ve played really good defense this

year. They’ll do what they do, and we’ll line up and see what we can

do.”

Having Martin back at middle linebacker allows Theriot to move

back to outside, the position his coaches feel he is better suited

for.

“Dealing with people being injured is like moving pieces around,”

Brinkley said. “Sometimes you put them where they fit best.”

The Tars defense will have to focus on a balanced CdM offense that

has been productive running (1,029 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and passing

(434, 3 TDs).

Corona del Mar runs the option on offense, meaning one person is

always left unblocked on defense.

“I think our defensive ends are going to have real big games this

week,” defensive coordinator Tony Ciarelli said. “We’ve got everybody

[healthy] and I feel confident in our defense.”