Sailing into Sunset

The Newport Harbor High football team was a Sea View League tri-champion last year. Then the Sailors captured the CIF Southern Section Division VI title.

But that doesn’t mean much this season, because the Sailors begin their third stint in the Sunset League, and teams like CIF Division I finalist Esperanza and perennial powerhouse Los Alamitos likely aren’t very impressed.

“I don’t know how they’ll look at us,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “I’m not really concerned about that. But I know we’ll play hard and compete.”

Newport Harbor plans to approach the season no differently than the past 20 years under Brinkley.

“We’ll take it one game at a time, but we want to be around for 14 weeks,” Brinkley said. “We want to peak out in Week 14.”

That’ll be a tough task, because at least a couple of other teams are hoping to do the same thing — and have realistic chances of doing so, which figures to make for a compelling Sunset League title race. Newport Harbor isn’t helped by the fact that it has just three full-time returning starters. Fortunately for the Sailors, those players — receiver Jarrett Daniel, middle linebacker Nick Frazier and defensive tackle/defensive end Mike Calabrese — were All-CIF Division VI honorees last year.

Daniel, a senior this season, led the team in receiving yards last season with 587 on 32 receptions. He had 11 touchdown catches, averaging better than one TD every three receptions. He averaged a sparkling 18.4 yards per catch

The 6-foot-1, 182-pound Daniel also is slated to start at cornerback this season.

“He made big plays for us,” Brinkley said. “I would think he’ll do it again this season. He has gotten a lot stronger — that’ll help.”

Frazier, who had 118 tackles as a middle linebacker last year, figures to be in triple digits again this season as a senior leader.

“Frazier is not a real verbal guy,” Brinkley said. “His leadership comes from making plays. He’ll solidify us in being able to stop the run. He has a year under his belt and he has seen every scheme.”

The 5-11, 211-pounder also is slated to punt, play backup fullback and possibly kick this season.

Calabrese started last season at defensive tackle before shifting to end. The 6-1, 224-pound senior tallied 47 tackles and seven sacks last year. He returns to tackle this season as the leader of the defensive line.

Other top returners from last year include seniors Brice Stillman and Frank Muscatello. Stillman saw some time last season when the Sailors went with three receivers, but had just one catch for 14 yards. He’s slated to start at receiver and cornerback. “Stillman is a good, solid possession receiver,” Brinkley said. “And he’s the best blocking receiver we have.”

Muscatello, a senior offensive tackle, is down one pound from last season at 382. Brinkley said he started three or four games last year when starter Matt McCullough got hurt.

“This year is similar to last year in terms of not having a lot of returning starters,” said Brinkley, who had four returning starters on offense and two on defense in 2005, when the Sailors went 11-3 and won the program’s third CIF title. “But that’s what high school football is like. I’m always optimistic in terms of our ability to coach all the kids and have them be ready when it’s their turn to step up and be a starter. Hopefully they’ll be ready to play.”

One of the Sailors’ biggest challenges will be replacing the offensive output of CIF Division VI Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Rippon.

Rippon had 223 carries for 1,713 yards and 13 touchdowns to help the Tars outscore opponents, 346-223.

“It’s a pretty big deal to lose him,” Brinkley said of the Newport-Mesa Dream Team Most Valuable Player. “We lost a lot of other big-time players as well.”

Those losses include dominant offensive tackle Charles Schultz (6-4, 332), right guard Billy Munce and cornerback Fernando Lara (four playoff interceptions) — all of whom were All-CIF Division VI — as well as fullback Jack Tracy (793 yards rushing, five touchdowns) and quarterback Tom Jackson, the Newport-Mesa Offensive Player of the Year.

Jackson threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in the 28-21 victory over Valencia in the CIF championship game last year. Jackson threw for 1,505 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.

Set to take over at tailback is 5-10, 165-pound junior Riley Parker, who had a 61-yard TD run against Woodbridge last year.

“He’s not big,” Brinkley said. “But he’s a tough kid and has good strength. And he has been good on the lower levels.”

Brinkley is looking for other kids to step up at tailback. Senior Ben Buttolph (6-1, 200) and junior Ben Frazier (5-10, 183) have a good chance to see time at tailback.

The quarterback position features a neck-and-neck battle between returning backup Kevin Williams and St. Francis High transfer Stephen Peterson.

Williams has more mobility than Peterson, but Peterson has the edge in varsity experience after starting half a season at St. Francis. Peterson threw for 673 yards in seven games for the Golden Knights.

Brinkley said the two have taken equal reps during the spring and summer, but neither has distanced himself from the other.

“It’s dead even,” Brinkley said. “They were 20 yards apart over the summer, and they threw a lot of balls. Their percentage of completions was similar, and their touchdown-to-interception ratio was very close. It’s a good battle. I could start either guy right now and feel good about it.”

Newport Harbor welcomes back assistant Zach Biehl to its coaching staff. Biehl is a former player and assistant coach for the Sailors.

He just finished a stint as an assistant at Santa Ana College. He’ll coach the offensive line.

“He went through our program and he has coached here,” Brinkley said. “He understands what the program is all about. He’ll fit right back in.”

Newport Harbor boasts a typically competitive nonleague schedule. The Tars open their season with games at Aliso Niguel (Sept. 8) and Irvine before returning home against Corona del Mar and Dana Hills.

They have one last nonleague game at Mira Costa before diving into Sunset League action against Esperanza.

The Sailors have six road games and four home games this season because they had trouble finding a game for Week 1. Aliso Niguel agreed to play them — but at Aliso Niguel. The next two years Aliso Niguel will play at Newport Harbor.

“It’s a tough preseason schedule,” Brinkley said. “Hopefully, it’ll get us ready for the Sunset League.”

Newport Harbor looks to improve week to week so that it’s a formidable team come playoff time. If the Sailors reach the postseason, they will compete in the Pac-5 Division with teams from the Moore, Serra, South Coast and Trinity leagues.

“We’ll try to get better at the end,” Brinkley said. “That’s what we did last year.”

THE SAILORS

Colors: Navy Blue, gray and white.

League: Sunset.

2005 record: 11-3, 4-1 in league.

Type of offense: Pro style.

Type of defense: Multiple four-three.

Head coach: Jeff Brinkley (21st year, 175-67-3).

Staff: Brinkley (offensive coordinator, quarterbacks); Tony Ciarelli (defensive coordinator, secondary); Bill Brown (running backs); Mike Bargas (defensive line); Matt Burns (linebackers); Bill Calloway (receivers); Zach Biehl (offensive line); Lance Chavez (offensive line); Garrett Govaars (defensive backs).

Returning starters: Two defense, one offense.

Returning lettermen: 14

Returning with honors: WR Jarrett Daniel, MLB Nick Frazier, DT Mike Calabrese.

2005 ResultsOpponentScoreFountain Valley 14-7 WMarina 21-17 WCorona del Mar 14-0 WDana Hills 39-13 LMira Costa 23-20 LWoodbridge* 41-14 WFoothill* 19-13 WAliso Niguel* 24-21 LIrvine* 33-13 WLaguna Hills* 33-13 WEl Dorado** 32-31 WCharter Oak** 28-7 WTustin** 28-0 WValencia (Placentia)** 28-21 W

2006 ScheduleDateOpponentSiteTimeSept. 8Aliso NiguelAway7 p.m.Sept. 15IrvineAway7 p.m.Sept. 21Corona del Mar Home7 p.m.Sept. 28Dana HillsHome7 p.m.Oct. 6Mira Costa Away7 p.m.Oct. 13Esperanza*Home7 p.m.Oct. 19Los Alamitos*Veterans Stad.7 p.m.Oct. 27Edison*Hunt. Beach7 p.m.Nov. 3Marina*Home7 p.m.Nov. 10Fountain Valley*Hunt. Beach7 p.m.

* denotes league game; ** denotes playoff game