Harbor’s defense electric

NEWPORT BEACH — The camera lit up. So did Corona del Mar High quarterback Hunter Alder’s face 12 minutes before the biggest start of his football career.

Instead of staring at the camera nearby, the senior made sure to look for someone who would do him a favor.

“Make sure this one is the game ball,” said Alder, gripping the ball before tossing it and jogging away. “I want that ball.”

So did the Sailors’ secondary in the 46th meeting between the cross-town rivals in the Battle of the Bay.

Only on a Thursday night, when Fox Sports Network televised the game, would defensive backs JB Green and Danny Miller imitate the original primetime performer, Deion Sanders.

The only things missing, beside five interceptions, three returned for touchdowns, were those slick “Prime Time” end-zone dances.

The juniors waited until afterward. The Sailors were in good spirits, with the defense bouncing back after losing at home against Long Beach Poly, beating CdM, 41-7, at Davidson Field.

All week long leading up to the big game, Green kept hearing what Coach Jeff Brinkley stressed.

“[He] told us that we just need to bounce back quickly and get on our feet and kick CdM’s butt because they got us last year,” said Green, who made sure the Sea Kings wouldn’t pull off a second straight upset.

The field before the game belonged to the Sea Kings, playing as the home team. But the field is really the Sailors’ (2-1). They own it as they do the series, 33-13.

It felt weird to defensive tackle Chase Obenauer being on the visiting sideline, the one Long Beach Poly stood on during a 34-7 rout last week.

Maybe the change of scenery was good as the 6-foot-6, 276-pounder played a vital role in the defense’s tenacious effort, finishing with two sacks despite nursing a high-ankle sprain.

Turnovers created problems for Newport Harbor in last year’s rivalry game as CdM forced six in a 14-6 win.

This time the Sea Kings (1-3) committed seven, five interceptions and two fumbles, as they dropped their third straight game.

Corona del Mar Coach Dick Freeman was right about the Sailors’ offense, about which he said before the game, “they run the ball OK” and “they throw the ball OK.”

Newport Harbor could afford to be all right. The defense took care of almost half of the scoring. The first of two interception returns for touchdowns by Green came with 4:05 left in the second quarter and the Sailors up, 9-0.

Preparing for short passes throughout, Green read the ball going to his side. He jumped it, racing in from 18 yards out. But that wouldn’t be his best, or maybe of the night.

Green and Miller picked off two and three balls, respectively. One outdid the other, then Miller, like he did 52 seconds after Green’s first interception, took one to the house to make it 21-0. Twenty-five yards down the Newport Harbor sideline, for teammates to see.

No high-stepping into the end zone, more game left.

Somehow Alder, pressured throughout, managed to hurt Newport Harbor’s secondary once. He hit tight end Ali Meshkin, who made a one-handed grab on fourth-and-goal from the two, with no time left to cut into the deficit.

But out went Alder early in the third after throwing his third interception, which Miller hauled in.

“I think we made more mistakes ourselves than playing a tough defense,” said Alder, who finished with 59 yards on nine-of-18 passing.

The new quarterback didn’t fair any better against Newport Harbor, which didn’t allow CdM to gain 100 yards rushing or passing.

Green intercepted the first pass he saw, taking it down CdM’s sideline for a 45-yard return to put the game away midway through the third. He would have another score in the quarter. This time a 61-yard reception from quarterback Andrew McDonald.

But no celebration. It makes sense to Miller.

“We don’t do that,” Miller said. “We play classy.”

Even on TV.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.