Prep football: Looking for a leg up

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Two teams looking for a good swift kick, literally

and figuratively, square off Friday at 7 p.m. when Newport Harbor High

hosts Laguna Hills in a Sea View League football battle.

Both the Sailors and Hawks had punts blocked last week and both led to

crucial touchdowns in their respective league-opening losses.

Harbor’s special-teams breakdowns also included a 69-yard kickoff

return to set up another score as Irvine captured the battle of league

title favorites, 19-14.

Woodbridge blocked a Laguna Hills punt en route to a 10-0 victory,

ruining a strong performance by the Hawks’ defense, which limited the

Warriors to 94 yards total offense.

“We’re excited to go play again,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley

said. “Any time you have a disappointing loss like that, you hope to get

back out there as soon as possible. Hopefully, we can get a win and get

back in the hunt. This game becomes real critical now, because of the

position both teams find themselves in.”

The Sailors (4-2, 0-1 in league), ranked No. 6 in CIF Southern Section

Division VI, have put opposing defenses in a bind the last four games,

thanks to the stalwart rushing performance of senior tailback Chris

Manderino.

Manderino, a former All-Sea View League quarterback, has rushed for

889 yards on 137 carries (a 6.5 average) in 15 quarters at tailback.

Including his duty under center, he has 11 touchdowns.

The offensive line of tackles Scott Lopez and Robert Chai, guards

Bryan Breland and Jim Erickson, as well as center Jeff Marshall, has

helped the Tars produce 1,220 rushing yards, 70% of their total offensive

output.

Laguna Hills (3-3, 0-1), ranked No. 9 in CIF Division VI, surrendered

a school single-game rushing record 310 yards last fall to late Harbor

tailback Andre Stewart. The Hawks have shifted to the Buddy Ryan 46

scheme in recent weeks.

Hawks Coach Bruce Ingalls, who believes the 46 better suits his

undersized unit, made the change in Week 4. Since the move, the Hawks

have given up 36 points, compared to 73 points yielded the first three

games.

Should the Sailors need to throw, junior Morgan Craig (382 yards and

three TDs on 33-of-56 passing) will look for favorite receiver Brian

Gaeta (20 catches for 271 yards and two TDs).

Laguna Hills has shown balance offensively. Junior running back Matt

Chandler, 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, has 561 rushing yards and nine TDs on 90

carries, despite missing at least six quarters with a hip pointer. Senior

Mike Klein (5-10, 200) has added 492 rushing yards on 33 attempts.

Junior quarterback Chris Johnson has thrown for 900 yards and seven

touchdowns, completing 59 of 117 with four interceptions.

The Newport defense, ninth in Orange County in points allowed, is led

by All-CIF senior inside linebacker Alan Saenz, senior all-league

defensive end Garrett Troncale (seven sacks) and junior cornerback Gaeta

(three interceptions).

Harbor won last year’s meeting, 27-10, after trailing, 10-7, midway

through the third quarter.