Harbor hits up Poly

Right after Newport Harbor High’s season opener last week, Brandon Kula focused on the next football game.

“We start practicing for Long Beach [Poly] now,” the senior linebacker said.

The Jackrabbits have been preparing the Sailors for almost three weeks.

It can be a good or bad thing for the Sailors when they take the field tonight at Veterans Stadium at 7.

With a lot of time off, rust can set in.

But when you’re playing Long Beach Poly, ranked No. 2 in the state by CalHiSports.com and the No. 7 in the country by ESPNRise.com, the odds are stacked against you.

Newport Harbor stomped on Aliso Niguel, 58-7, at Davidson Field, but the Wolverines only won one game last season.

Long Beach Poly went on the road on Aug. 30 and beat last year’s national top-ranked team in Northwestern of Miami, 29-7, Florida’s two-time defending 6A state champion.

The strength of schedule favors the Jackrabbits.

Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley is familiar with Long Beach Poly. His Sailors played host to the Jackrabbits twice last year.

Each time Brinkley saw the Jackrabbits win by an average of 24 points.

The second game came in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs. Coach Raul Lara was surprised his Jackrabbits were even playing the Sailors again.

“Wow,” he told the Los Angeles Times after hearing Newport Harbor upset host Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, 7-3, in the first round of the playoffs.

The Sailors will try their best to shock Lara again.

Their entire defense, led by Kula, is practically back from last year. The key, as it is in every game, is stopping the running game. If Newport Harbor can force Long Beach Poly to throw, it will have a chance.

“We have to play assignment football,” Newport Harbor junior outside linebacker Cecil Whiteside said.

Last year, the Sailors failed containing running back Melvin Richardson.

In Long Beach Poly’s 34-7 regular-season win against Newport Harbor, Richardson ran for 80 yards and one touchdown on six carries in his first varsity start. The sequel was much better.

He ran for 181 yards and two scores on 20 carries, helping the Jackrabbits to a 35-14 win.

Richardson is back for his senior year. The Division I prospect can run inside and break it outside. He showcased his talents against Northwestern, rushing for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

As is the case every year, Long Beach Poly is loaded with skilled and athletic players. The Jackrabbits are bound to defend their Pac-5 Division title. They’re ranked No. 1 in the division. After winning his sixth straight season opener, Brinkley had nothing but praise for the Jackrabbits.

“They’re well coached. They have great tradition,” said Brinkley, referring to the Jackrabbits producing the most NFL players than any another high school in the nation. “They’ve got all the things that it takes to be a big-time program. It’s good for us. It’s a good challenge for us.”