Prep football: Sea View showdown

Barry Faulkner

IRVINE - One day, when Newport Harbor High football coach Jeff

Brinkley embraces retirement, he’ll want to pick up the phone and

reminisce with Irvine Coach Terry Henigan about the classic matchups

their former teams strung together around the turn of the millennium.

That conversation figures to include Friday’s 7 p.m. Sea View

League-opening clash at Irvine, the winner of which will break the

coaches’ 5-5 deadlock in head-to-head confrontations since 1992.

The Brinkley-Henigan rivalry has featured two CIF Southern Section

title games, including last year’s dramatic 19-18 Harbor win. But,

seemingly every fall for the last nine seasons, the two square off for

Sea View supremacy.

Such are the stakes this year, as Irvine (5-0 for the first time in

its history) comes in ranked No. 3 in CIF Division VI and No. 5 in Orange

County.

Harbor (4-1) is ranked No. 5 in Division VI and believed to be the

only team that can challenge a 37-man Vaquero roster that includes 34

seniors.

“We’ve had some great battles with these guys and this should be

another one,” Brinkley said. “They have a very good team, with a bunch of

seniors who have been through the wars.

“And this one is a little different than last year, because we don’t

go in as the favorite.”

Last year, Harbor won the Oct. 15 league opener, 12-10, thanks to Garrett Troncale blocking a 26-yard field-goal attempt with 4:51 left.

Troncale came up big again in the CIF title game, forcing a fumble which

was returned by teammate Andy Kalanz for the winning touchdown with 10:15

remaining.

Perhaps haunted by the memory of twice losing leads to the Sailors

last season, Irvine has left little to chance this fall. The Vaqueros,

who lead the county in scoring, have outscored opponents 215-43,

including a 164-11 advantage in the first half. They’ve built leads of

21, 30, 41, 65 and 24 points, respectively, and four players have scored

at least five touchdowns.

The offensive onslaught continued last week, despite the absence of

senior quarterback Travis Otott. Expected to return after sitting out

with a minor knee problem, Otott has thrown for 560 yards and 10 TDs,

completing 38 of 65 with only one interception.

If he can’t go, senior Josh Short proved last week he is more than

capable, completing 14 of 20 for 165 yards and a TD in a victory over

Loara.

Irvine’s single-back offense also includes darter Peter Abe, versatile

Dave Doomey and junior Godfrey Young.

Abe rushed for 101 yards last week, the only triple-figure output this

season for an Irvine back.

Doomey, who spent his junior season at Santa Margarita after earning

all-league honors at Irvine as a sophomore, has four TDs rushing and

another receiving. Also the kicker, his 57 points are seventh-most in the

county. When he’s not in the backfield, he lines up at receiver and he

also sees time in the secondary.

Young’s six TDs include kickoff returns of 96 and 70 yards and he was

Irvine’s most effective ground gainer against Harbor last year (73 yards

in two games).

Senior Eric Patton, an all-league safety, also leads the receiving

corps with 18 catches for 310 yards. He has scored six TDs, including one

of four by the defense.

That defense, which utilizes the Buddy Ryan 46 scheme, includes

returning all-leaguers Brian Porteous (end) and Zach Taylor (outside

linebacker). The Vaqueros have not surrendered more than 37 yards to any

running back this season. The 43 points they’ve allowed, about half of

which have come against backups, are fourth-fewest among county squads.

“They have a bunch of athletes who are quick and they’ll hit you,”

Brinkley said. “They’re going to put eight guys in the box and challenge

their corners to handle the passing game. You have to be very disciplined

with your blocking assignments and you can’t get frustrated if you have a

negative play.”

Irvine produced eight quarterback sacks in the championship game last

fall, when Harbor was held to just 6 rushing yards the first half.

Those sacks were absorbed by Chris Manderino, who has since shifted to

tailback. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder has rushed for 721 yards in 11

quarters at his new position and has scored nine TDs.

The Tars’ passing attack is triggered by junior Morgan Craig, who has

completed 26 of 41 for 340 yards and three TDs, without an interception.

Craig’s sound decision making has helped Newport build a plus-seven

turnover ratio.

Junior Brian Gaeta has 16 receptions for 245 yards and two TDs and is

also a key figure on defense with three interceptions.

Other defensive standouts for Harbor include All-CIF middle linebacker

Alan Saenz, outside linebackers Manderino and Andy Rankin, tackle Nick

Moghaddam, as well as ends Troncale and Ian Banigan.

Troncale sat out last week with an ankle injury, but is expected to

return. He has 18 sacks in 17 varsity starts and has the aforementioned

big-play history against Irvine.

“We’ll need to defend the whole field,” Brinkley said. “And we can’t

give up the big pass play.”

Irvine’s all-senior offensive line averages 261 pounds, but Harbor

fared well last week against a Claremont line that averaged 285.

Claremont produced just 97 yards total offense.

The game will also be televised live by the Orange County NewsChannel.