Sailors want title share

Newport Harbor football game pre vs. Laguna HillsTars can gain portion of Sea View League crown with win over Laguna Hills.To culminate its silver anniversary season in the Sea View League, the Newport Harbor High football team is bidding for a golden victory against Laguna Hills tonight at Mission Viejo High.

A win in the 7 p.m. regular season finale would give the Sailors (6-3, 3-1 in league), ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section Division VI, a share of their second straight league championship.

Laguna Hills (5-4, 4-0), ranked No. 9 in CIF Division VI, is bidding for its first Sea View title since joining the league in 1999. The Hawks’ last league crown came in 1997 in the Pacific Coast League.

Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley earned his 200th win Nov. 3 at Irvine. But a victory tonight would provide another milestone: the first back-to-back league titles in his 20 seasons at the Sailors’ helm.

“We’re still playing for a championship and we control our own destiny,” Brinkley said. “We don’t have to worry about someone beating someone else.”

A win would put both the Sailors and Hawks atop the league standings at 4-1.

If Aliso Niguel beats Irvine on Saturday, the Wolverines would join the logjam as tri-champions. Coin flips would then decide the league’s three playoff representatives.

If Newport wins and Aliso Niguel loses, the Sailors will be outright champions.

Newport Harbor has already clinched its seventh straight postseason trip.

The Sailors have never lost in six meetings with the Hawks, whose chances may depend on the availability of Dan Urias. The quarterback and inside linebacker was carried off the field after injuring his knee last week against Woodbridge.

Laguna Hills Coach Bruce Ingalls declined to provide an update on Urias’ status Tuesday.

“[Urias] is a real good football player on both sides of the ball,” Brinkley said. “He’s also their punter. We’re preparing as if he’ll be playing.”

Ryan Wertenberger replaced Urias at quarterback against Woodbridge, completing 2 of 5 passes for 44 yards. Trent Haryung, the Hawks’ leading receiver, has also played quarterback this season. He is 17 of 30 passing for 215 yards.

Urias has thrown for 836 yards and four touchdowns, completing 52 of 107 passes. He has also rushed for 574 yards and nine touchdowns.

Newport Harbor is led offensively by tailback Ryan Rippon and quarterback Tom Jackson.

Rippon, who missed the first four games recovering from knee surgery, has 682 rushing yards in five games. Jackson has completed 75 of 148 passes for 895 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Brinkley believes the Sailors have yet to play a complete game this season.

“I still have the feeling we’re going to have one of those nights when all the stars are lined up and we’re hitting on all cylinders,” Brinkley said. “It’s going to take one of those this week to beat [the Hawks].”

NEWPORT STARTERS