Prep football: Sailors sweating the details

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Having bounced back last week from its first loss

in 22 months, the Newport Harbor High football team is, once again,

basking in the confidence victory can induce as it approaches tonight’s 7

o’clock nonleague clash with visiting Dana Hills.

But Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley has implored his coaches and players

to remain motivated by the disappointment rendered by the Week 2 setback

to Marina.

“I reminded the coaches (after Friday’s 35-win over Back Bay rival

Corona del Mar) to make sure to critique (the CdM videotape) as intensely

as they did the week before (a 26-18 Marina win),” Brinkley said.

“Sometimes, winning can cause you to put blinders on and not look at

mistakes as closely.”

Brinkley believes Dana Hills (1-2, but with both losses against teams

ranked in the Orange County Top 10), could turn even a minimum of

mistakes into a long evening the the reigning CIF Southern Section

Division VI champions, now 2-1 and ranked No. 6 in Division VI.

“It’s the best team we’ve played, to date,” Brinkley said. “They’re

very good and it’ll be a tough challenge.”

Coach Scott Orloff’s Dolphins have absorbed defeats from Fountain

Valley, 24-18, and Edison, 42-21, slipping a 49-6 romp over Santa Ana in

between.

The Division II South Coast League representative, which for a brief

time was penciled into the Sea View League during the most recent

releaguing negotiations, has lost 10 of its last 13. But Orloff, who

coached the South All-Stars last summer, has introduced a new offensive

scheme to his typically rugged schedule this fall.

“They run this Fly-type deal,” Brinkley said.

And, with little exception, the Dolphins have executed the

run-oriented scheme, typified by sending a potential ballcarrier in

motion toward the quarterback as the ball is snapped, with strong

results.

Senior Kyle Kelly has rushed for 434 yards and six touchdowns on 37

carries. His TDs include jaunts of 73 and 69 yards.

Sophomore Terrell Vinson, the motion man, has 261 yards on 24 carries.

His five TDs include a 76-yard kickoff return.

The Dolphins, who had six turnovers against Fountain Valley, rolled up

527 rushing yards against Santa Ana. That’s 1 yard less than the total

given up by Harbor’s defense (rushing and passing) through three games.

“(Vinson) is a really good runner and they pound (Kelly) up inside,”

Brinkley said.

The Dolphins have not thrown much. Junior quarterback Steve Vierra is

6 of 22 for 35 yards, with three interceptions.

Harbor’s defense, which has helped create a plus-four turnover ratio,

has been led by senior ends Garrett Troncale (four sacks) and Ian

Banigan, senior linebackers Chris Manderino, Alan Saenz and Andy Rankin,

as well as junior cornerback Brian Gaeta (three interceptions).

Offensively, Manderino has led a resurgence, since being shifted from

quarterback to tailback midway through the Marina game.

He rushed for 226 yards and three TDs on 32 carries against CdM and

now has 309 yards on 45 carries as a tailback (a 6.9-yard average).

Junior Morgan Craig has assumed the quarterback job and is 11 for 17

for 139 yards and one TD after completing all five attempts in his

starting debut last week.

Gaeta leads Harbor receivers with eight catches for 103 yards.

Harbor will try to combat Dana Hills’ attacking four-three defensive

scheme that includes frequent blitzes.

It’s the first meeting between the two schools.