Nothing fancy about these Sailors

Rick Devereux

The steady march continues.

The Newport Harbor High football team plays host to Charter Oak at

7 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section

Division VI playoffs.

The Sailors (10-0-1) have now reached the quarterfinals in 12 of

Coach Jeff Brinkley’s 19 years at the helm.

Newport Harbor did not advance to the second round of the playoffs

because of a high-powered passing offense, a blazing run attack or

jaw-dropping special teams.

The Sailors have played consistent all year, not doing anything

spectacular, just doing everything, it seems, correct.

The Tars have a balanced offense, gaining 1,367 yards and 18

touchdowns through the air and 2,239 yards and 22 touchdowns on the

ground.

Trevor Theriot, who sat out most of the first-round El Dorado game

(a 35-10 Newport win) after sustaining an ankle injury, leads Newport

with 1,117 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 164 carries.

Theriot, who responds to the nickname “Moose,� is expected to be

fully healed from the ankle injury and should start Friday.

Charter Oak (8-3) is cut from the same mold as Newport Harbor.

The Chargers are balanced on offense, gaining more than 1,800

yards rushing and more than 1,300 passing.

“They are a very good football team and maybe the most talented

team we have faced in terms of all-around athletes,� Brinkley said.

“This is going to be a very challenging week. They are strong in

the receiving corps, have a real good running back and play solid

defense.�

Senior quarterback Manuel Ambriz has 10 touchdown passes compared

to four interceptions while distributing the ball to multiple

receivers.

William Harris leads the Chargers with more than 30 receptions for

close to 500 yards.

Tight end Javon Williams is also a popular target, hauling in 18

passes for more than 350 yards, which ranks second on the team behind

Harris.

In all, Charter Oak has five players with double-digit receptions.

The ground game is powered by Aaron Capers. The senior has

averaged close to 6.6 yards per carry, gaining more than 1,300

rushing yards.

Brinkley said containing Capers will be the key to the Sailor

defense.

“We want to stop the run,� Brinkley said. “That’s our No. 1

priority.

“We also don’t want to give up the big plays. We want to make them

drive the field in order to score on us.�

The fact the game will be at Newport Harbor gives the Sailors an

advantage.

“We play well at our place,� Brinkley said.

“We draw good crowds that always support us and our kids are very

comfortable there.�