Congratulations to Newport’s champs

The most immediate elation of victory may be fading a little, but for Newport Harbor High School’s football team, the winning feeling won’t ever disappear.

Dec. 11, the Sailors -- including 22 seniors -- unexpectedly captured the school’s third CIF football title since 1994, defeating Valencia, 28-21, in the CIF Southern Section Division VI title game. The team was not the most experienced ever to play under head coach Jeff Brinkley, but it turned out to be one of those special ones that claim strengths beyond Xs and O’s. Chemistry proved key for these Sailors.

“It was pure happiness that we won, but there was a little sadness, because the seniors are leaving,” junior middle linebacker Nick Frazier said the day after the victory. “We’re like brothers. Going through all the adversity that we went through this year, we always stuck together. Winning that game was one of the happiest moments of my life. I imagined it would be an incredible thing, but, once it happened, it meant so much more to me than I thought it would.”

Chemistry can be key, but it took more than that for the Sailors to win.

Senior quarterback Tom Jackson shrugged off a three-for-10 first half of passing and 26 yards to connect on seven of nine attempts for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Senior tailback Ryan Rippon, who’s addition mid-season helped crank up the offense, ran the ball 25 times for 85 yards.

The defense toughened up in the decisive second half. Senior James Coder, who played both sides of the ball, caught the game-clinching interception with 51 seconds left.

And then the elation began.

We happily join in the chorus offering the Sailors congratulations for a season well done.