Newport Harbor football ranked No. 39 in the state

The Newport Harbor High football team, preparing for just its third season in a CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division that includes some of the most respected programs in the state, has been afforded some respect of its own entering the 2008 season.

The Sailors, who went 8-4 last season, including a first-round playoff upset of Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, are ranked No. 39 in CalHiSports.com’s preseason state top-50 poll released Thursday.

Newport Harbor, with seven starters back on both sides of the ball, including All-Newport-Mesa Defensive Player of the Year Cecil Whiteside, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound outside linebacker, will open its season Sept. 11 at home against Aliso Niguel.

Three teams on the Sailors’ schedule, including Sunset League rivals Los Alamitos and Edison, are also ranked.

Long Beach Poly, which eliminated the Tars in the quarterfinals last season and defeated Newport Harbor twice in 2007, is ranked No. 2 in the poll, trailing only De La Salle of Concord.

Newport is scheduled to meet Long Beach Poly Sept. 19 at Veterans Stadium.

Los Alamitos is ranked No. 9, while Edison, which opened its season with a victory Friday night in Hawaii, is ranked No. 26.

Newport Harbor opens league play Oct. 17 against Edison and plays host to Los Alamitos in the regular-season finale Nov. 13.

Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, which the Sailors will face in a scrimmage Friday at 7 p.m. at Estancia High, are ranked No. 24.

— Barry Faulkner