Prep football: Tars patchwork-ing well

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Through seven weeks, Newport Harbor High is one of

Orange County’s six unbeaten teams. But the Sailors are still waiting for

their ideal lineup to take the field.

An unusually high number of injuries -- for Newport, anyway --

including several on the offensive line, have forced Coach Jeff Brinkley

and his staff to mix and match, while still rolling through opponents for

a 6-0-1 start, including a 2-0 Sea View League record.

Harbor’s “A Team,” however, is coming closer to fruition, which bodes

well for the Tars, as they attempt to extend their season to 14 weeks for

the third straight year.

Friday, Harbor rolled to a 24-0 decision over league rival and

defending CIF Southern Section Division VI champion Irvine. But not

without dipping into the depth chart.

Senior nose guard and tight end Joe Foley sat out for the second

straight week with a sprained right ankle, while senior offensive tackle

John Dobrott was also sidelined with a strained knee.

The Sailors did benefit from the return of senior Brian Gaeta, a

two-way standout who played exclusively at cornerback against Irvine.

Brinkley, however, said Gaeta, a first-team All-Sea View League and

All-Newport-Mesa District receiver as a junior, will also be worked in on

offense this week, in preparation for Friday’s Sea View contest against

Laguna Hills at Mission Viejo High.

Gaeta had not played since tearing tendons in his ankle the first

quarter of the opening game against Orange Lutheran.

“I wasn’t hesitant at all about letting him go this week, because he

was moving really well in practice,” said Brinkley, who believes the time

spent rehabilitating his ankle also helped Gaeta work through some

lingering effects from offseason surgery on both knees.

“I told his dad, I thought he was moving around better last week than

before the Orange Lutheran game,” Brinkley said. “I think the ankle

(problem) may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, because it really

gave his knees more time to rest.”

Brinkley said seeing Gaeta be able to play was gratifying to the

coaches and uplifting to his teammates.

“I was really happy for him, because he’s been through a tough deal,”

Brinkley said. “And, he’s a senior and one of our captains. He plays with

a lot of confidence and that gives us more confidence in the secondary.”

Gaeta stepped in for senior Nick Iverson, who filled in admirably and

will continue to contribute, according to Brinkley.

The same has been true of offensive linemen Ben Prince and Chris

Badorek, who have helped hold the fort while left guard A.J. Slater

(back) and Dobrott have been sidelined.

In addition, senior guard Bryan Breland has shifted from right guard,

to left, back to the right side. Badorek has started at right tackle and

right guard.

Brinkley also credits the versatility of senior David Marshall, who

went from tight end, to fullback, back to tight end to fill in for Foley

on offense.

Defensively, Breland has been shifted from end to nose to fill in for

Foley. Senior Genaro Mota was also productive off the bench at nose guard

against Irvine.

Meanwhile, Mike McDonald has performed well at receiver in the absence

of both Gaeta and senior Jon Vandersloot (who missed extended time with a

shin problem).

“I think, in certain areas, it’s as deep a team as we’ve had,”

Brinkley said. “I think we might have more guys who are equivalent in

ability than we’ve ever had. And we’ve always tried to stress to the

whole team that anyone is only the snap of a finger away from being in

the game. Our guys do a good job of paying attention and working hard in

practice, because, if they are asked to play, they don’t want to go out

there and let the team down. When we’ve called on guys this year, they

have risen to the occasion.”