Tar defense keys success

Rick Devereux

Riding high on the wave of last week’s dramatic, 21-17,

come-from-behind victory over Corona del Mar High, the Newport Harbor

football team must now refocus its energy on a surprisingly strong

Dana Hills squad.

The Dolphins (3-0) are ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section

Division II after squeaking past Pacific Coast League contender

Tesoro, 43-42, last week. Dana Hills, which finished 2-8 last year,

has a new coach in Armando Gonzalez, the third coach in three seasons

for the program.

“Dana has a new coach and he has done a good job,” Coach Jeff

Brinkley. “[Gonzalez] has changed their attitude and done well

scheme-wise.”

Schemes always seem to work when there are athletes in place to

run those schemes, and the Dolphins have solid players in key

positions.

Nate Barnett, last year’s quarterback, has excelled at wide

receiver for Gonzalez, collecting close to 500 receiving yards and

five touchdowns in three games.

Throwing to Barnett has been Grant Schwartz. The 5-foot-11 junior

has thrown for more than 550 yards with six touchdowns and only one

interception this season. Schwart has also gained close to 100 yards

rushing with two more TDs.

“[Dana Hills is] athletic,” Brinkley said. “Their quarterback is

excellent. He throws well and can run. Barnett was their option

quarterback from last year. [Gonzalez] made him a wide receiver. They

also have their top tailback [Brandon Giesen] returning. He can go

back on kick returns and is a threat on special teams.”

The Newport defense has been its strong suit so far. The Sailors

have limited opponents to 24 points, but it should be less.

CdM scored after an interception return to the 3 -- hardly the

defense’s fault -- and the Sailors held the Sea Kings to a field goal

following another turnover deep in Newport territory. The other

touchdown by Corona was set up by a long kickoff return to the

Newport 32.

The Sailors pitched a shutout against Marina in Week 2, and a

40-yard touchdown by Fountain Valley in the season opener was the

result of what Brinkley called a “secondary miscue.”

“Our defense is really solid,” wide receiver Spencer Link said.

“We have a lot of strengths in a lot of different places, but I think

our defense has been great.”

Link is definitely one the strengths for the Newport Harbor

offense, despite only playing one game. But, oh, what a game. Against

CdM Link returned a forth quarter punt 63 yards for a touchdown to

bring the Sailors within three points, and 1:20 later scored the

game-winning touchdown on a 47 yard catch and run. Link’s return from

a shoulder injury has been a jolt of energy to his teammates.

“They respect his ability as an athlete,” Brinkley said. “It

boosts everyone’s confidence to get a guy like that back.”

The one who is probably the happiest is quarterback Kasey Peters.

Alex Orth and James Coder have been reliable receivers so far this

season, and the addition of Link just adds to the number of weapons

at Peters’ disposal.

Dana Hills has played various types of defense this year, but

Brinkley said he expects the Dolphins to come out in a four-man

front. Like their offense, the Dana Hills defense has playmakers.

“Defensively, they have some athletes,” Brinkley said. “Their

tackle [Andrew Marshall, 6-1, 210] is a big kid and plays well on

defensive front. There is another tackle [Gino Ruffolo, 6-0, 265]

that is even bigger, but he isn’t as athletic.”