Sailors pick off victory

Barry Faulkner

Though the Newport Harbor High football team’s run defense was hardly

porous, the play-calling decisions made by host Mira Costa Friday

night came down to the proverbial carrot and the stick.

Or at least the carrot and the pick.

Newport Harbor intercepted five passes in a 28-14 nonleague

victory that helped it enter the Sea View League season 5-0, ranked

No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division VI.

Only one of the interceptions thrown by Mira Costa fill-in

quarterback Eric Esparza led directly to a touchdown. But the

Mustangs (2-3) were virtually sabotaged by their aerial inefficiency.

“Not a lot of people have thrown the ball on us and I think you

know why, now,” said Newport Harbor senior cornerback Matt Erickson,

who had two interceptions and got his hand on three other Esparza

offerings that fell incomplete.

Meanwhile, the hosts, playing without senior quarterback Brian

Seidensticker, who was injured after triggering the offense early in

the season, ran somewhat effectively on a Sailor defense that

continues to be depleted by injuries, fatigue and more injuries.

“We’re trying to mix and match,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff

Brinkley said. “We were grabbing guys there at the end to throw in at

linebacker.”

The Sailors earned their seventh 5-0 start in Brinkley’s 19

seasons at the helm (two other times they have opened 4-0-1), by

overcoming not only a physical band of Mustangs, but their own

lengthening injury list.

The Tars played without senior linebacker-running back Trevor

Theriot (dislocated elbow), senior linebacker Greg Miner (shoulder),

as well as starting defensive linemen Sean Rowe (concussion) and Ryan

Uhl (ankle).

Senior middle linebacker Thomas Martin was unavailable late in the

game after suffering cramps. But if ever there was an excuse for

seizing muscles, the 6-foot, 222-pounder had one.

Martin led the Sailors’ ground attack with 107 rushing yards on 13

carries, including a 61-yard scoring rumble on the third play after

halftime that gave the visitors a 21-7 lead.

Martin was also responsible for two interceptions, the first on

the opening play of the game. The second he returned 25 yards to the

Mira Costa 10 to set up the game’s final touchdown early in the

fourth period.

Erickson produced returns of 23 and 5 yards on his interceptions.

Senior safety Alex Orth snatched the other interception, tapping

both feet inbounds while falling out of bounds at his own 10-yard

line early in the second quarter. Orth’s theft negated the Sailors’

lone turnover, a fumble returned to the Sailors’ 28 by the Mustangs’

Daren Lou.

Mira Costa earned both of its touchdowns, marching 77 yards on 13

plays to tie the game, 7-7, and driving 68 yards on 10 plays to pull within 21-14 with 5:20 left in the third quarter.

Senior tailback Britton Ertman carried nine times on the first

Mustang scoring procession, which was capped by an 18-yard touchdown

pass from Esparza to Kevin Kelley.

Ertman, who finished with 129 yards on 29 attempts, carried seven

times on the second TD drive for the hosts, including the 4-yard

capper.

“[The Mustangs] ran the ball well on us,” Brinkley said. “They

were physical up front.”

In addition to a solid running game, the Sailors displayed a

dangerous passing attack. Senior quarterback Kasey Peters completed

13 of 19 pass attempts for 119 yards and three TDs.

He hit senior Spencer Link with a 5-yard scoring toss to break a

scoreless tie with 10:34 left in the first quarter. Peters then found

Orth in the back of the end zone with a 7-yard TD pass to put the

visitors ahead for good with 2:23 left in the opening period.

Travis Duffield made the second of his four conversion kicks to

give the Sailors a 14-7 lead and Mira Costa never got closer.

Martin’s big run gave Newport Harbor a more comfortable cushion

and Orth caught a 9-yard bullet from Peters to finalize the scoring

with 9:34 left in the game.

Orth finished with four catches for 32 yards, while Link, who

split time at tailback and receiver, had a season-high seven catches

for 63 yards. Link also rushed 11 times for 50 yards.

“Kasey threw the ball really well and we got a lot of mileage out

of Martin and Link,” Brinkley said.