Brandon Seward-Jones and Franklin Warner plan to move across Back Bay

Football season has nearly arrived, and an exciting twist will see the high schools of Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor in the same league.

The game will go beyond the normal Battle of the Bay bragging rights this year, as the Back Bay rivals will square off in Sunset League competition on Oct. 19.

It will only serve to enhance the passion of each student body, each of which knows the other well.

The countless connections between the schools could add two more, as incoming sophomores Brandon Seward-Jones and Franklin Warner said they plan to transfer to Newport Harbor from CdM.

Seward-Jones and Warner will learn on Aug. 10 whether the Newport-Mesa Unified School District allows them to transfer to Newport Harbor.

“CdM is a very great school,” Seward-Jones said. “It’s a great football program, great coaches. I love them all. They’re good players.

“Over here at Newport Harbor, I can see that we’re an up-and-coming team. We’re going to get better. We can only get better. We work hard. That’s all we can do.”

Seward-Jones, a 5-foot-8, 200-pound running back, played mostly on the freshmen and junior varsity squads for the Sea Kings as a freshman, but his season ended prematurely when he said he suffered an ACL injury in early September against El Toro.

During the summer, Seward-Jones believes he has carved out a role in the offense for himself behind incoming senior Colin Gregg.

“The running backs I’m battling, based off the reps I’m getting, I’m second-string right now,” said Seward-Jones, referring to the summer session. “I’ve still got to learn the plays, and plus, I’ve got to respect the players that have already been there and already put in work there.”

Both players expressed a desire to find a better fit for themselves in making the move across the Back Bay.

Warner called the plan to move to the Sailors “the best decision” he has made, citing Newport Harbor coach Peter Lofthouse’s junior college experience as the former head of the San Diego Mesa College football program.

Lofthouse did not return phone calls or text messages. When reached by phone, CdM coach Dan O’Shea said he had no comment on Seward-Jones and Warner’s plans to transfer to Newport Harbor.

Sam Barela started at quarterback for the Sailors last season, but he opted not to return for his senior year while he turns his attention to basketball. He plays point guard for the Sailors.

Warner, a 5-10, 165-pound wide receiver, could have a chance to establish rapport with the quarterbacks battling in camp. He said that two players are fighting for the job, senior-to-be Andrew Testa and rising sophomore Cole Lavin.

“I think he should come back,” Warner said of Barela. “If he doesn’t come back, it’s fine because we have two other great quarterbacks.”

Newcomers often have to do whatever is asked of them to ingratiate themselves to their new teammates, and that is exactly what Warner intends to do.

“I like to run underneath [routes],” Warner said. “I’ll do whatever the coach needs me to do. Whatever play that he calls, I’ll run the route.”

andrew.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner

UPDATES:

Aug. 1, 6:05 p.m.: This article was updated with information on Newport Harbor High coach Peter Lofthouse not returning phone calls or text messages, Corona del Mar coach Dan O’Shea not wanting to comment, and the date Brandon Seward-Jones and Franklin Warner will learn whether the Newport-Mesa Unified School District will allow them to transfer to Newport Harbor.

This article was originally published on July 31 at 9:15 p.m.