Battle of Bay a showcase for ample supply of talent

The mutual respect that flowed between both teams in Friday night’s

Battle of the Bay at Orange Coast College was one obvious byproduct

of the two neighborhood schools’ athletes having shared relationships

over the years.

From the meeting of captains at midfield for the pregame coin

toss, to interaction between players during the game, to the

handshakes, smiles, words and emotion exchanged afterward, it was

clear that these players, now rivals, had often been teammates in the

past.

And, from the caliber of play in Newport Harbor High’s 14-0

nonleague victory over Corona del Mar, it was also easy to see why

the last time these athletes shared the same uniform -- with the 2001

Newport-Mesa Seahawks -- they won the Junior All-American Super Bowl

in the Junior Midget Division .

“We were talking about that as coaches after the game,” Newport

Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “My thought was that if you put

these two schools together, it would make a pretty good [CIF Southern

Section] Division I football team. There were a lot of good football

players out on that field and, like I’ve said before, their guys

usually aren’t that much different from our guys.”

Here’s a look at Newport-Mesa schools coming off last week’s

action.

* NEWPORT HARBOR: The Sailors (3-0) put together their best

defensive performance of the season, including causing and recovering

two fumbles deep in CdM territory to set up both touchdowns.

But while obviously pleased by the play of the defense, Brinkley

lamented his offense’s inability to do more with consistently good

field position.

The Sailors saw possessions that reached the CdM 30-yard line, 29,

19, 31 and 30 all turned away without a score.

“Of the three contests we’ve had [the CdM defense] has played the

best of our opponents,” Brinkley said. “But I was also disappointed

in what we didn’t get done, offensively.

Senior defensive tackle Mike Calabrese, who made two solo sacks

and was in on two others, continues to impress, though Brinkley was

generous with praise for his entire defensive unit. The Tars won

their seventh straight Battle of the Bay contest.

“It’s good to get that game behind us with a win,” Brinkley said.

Brinkley said Friday’s nonleague game at Dana Hills (3-1) will be

his team’s toughest test to date.

* SAGE HILL: Lightning Coach Tom Monarch planned on testing his

passing game heading into Friday night’s game against Sherman Indian,

but after jumping out to a 52-0 halftime lead, running in the second

half was inevitable.

Sage went on to defeat the Braves, 52-8, to improve to 4-0 on the

season, the best start in the program’s young history.

“The game kind of dictated the fact we weren’t going to pass a lot

in the second half,” Monarch said. “Our goal was to throw about 15-20

times total.”

Sophomore quarterback Jamie McGee completed 4 of 7 passes for 99

yards and two touchdowns, while running for another score. Junior

fullback Don Ayres rushed 10 times for 140 yards and three

touchdowns, while sophomore running back Max Torres ran for 55 yards

and a score.

Sage has blown out its last four opponents by a combined 157-43,

with wins over Fairmont Prep, Saddleback Valley Chrstian, Midway

Baptist and Sherman Indian.

“I saw us winning because we worked hard over the summer, but in

regard to [all of the games] being lopsided -- I didn’t anticipate

that,” Monarch said. “I think we have the capability to be a

championship-caliber team.”

Sage plays Viewpoint (0-3) at Calabasas High Saturday night at 7.

* CORONA DEL MAR: Like Brinkley, Sea Kings Coach Dick Freeman had

plenty of positives when discussing his defense, calling the Battle

of the Bay his team’s best defensive game of the season.

But, also similar to Brinkley, he wants to see more progress,

offensively.

To that end, there remains the question of who will play

quarterback, with seniors Colin Wigley and Shaun Mohler having shared

time Friday.

Mohler started the first two games, while Wigley has started the

last two. But Mohler, who is also a standout inside linebacker, was

clearly the most effective against the Sailors.

“We’re going to play them both against Calvary Chapel [(0-4)

Friday at 7 p.m. at Newport Harbor High],” Freeman said.

It will be the Pacific Coast League opener for the Sea Kings

(2-2).

* COSTA MESA: The Mustangs received some much-needed good news

when it was learned that the injury sustained by senior Tony

Krikorian in Friday’s 31-9 nonleague loss at Laguna Beach, is a

high-ankle sprain.

Coach Jay Johnson feared it was a lower-leg fracture Friday.

Krikorian, the team’s best player through the first four games who

has started the last three games at quarterback in relief of Ryan

French (separated shoulder), is out indefinitely. But he should

return this season, Johnson said.

With Krikorian sidelined late in the second quarter Friday, the

Breakers ran away with the nonleague win that dropped Mesa to 0-4.

The Mustangs will open Golden West League play Friday against

crosstown rival Estancia (0-3) in the Battle for the Bell at Orange

Coast College.

* ESTANCIA: The Eagles used their bye week to heal up and try to

make some offensive adjustments, Coach Brian Barnes said.

Barnes said the onset of league play allows for a clean slate.

“We’ve had the preseason and now we’re going into the real

season,” he said.

-- Chris Yemma contributed to this report.