Change familiar to Tars

Steve Virgen

On paper, the Newport Harbor High football team will be very

different from last year. Yet, during spring football practices,

everything seemingly appears to be the same.

Much like most spring practices led by Coach Jeff Brinkley, the

Sailors attack late May and early June as if it were late August and

early September.

“We practice just like we are in season,” Brinkley said. “The

first week consists of an introduction, but, after that, we spend a

couple of days on league opponents, just like we were about to play

them.”

Tradition is an important attribute to express to the Sailors, who

will be young this season, Brinkley said. The less complex, the

better the opportunity there is to learn.

“It’s an important time for us right now to learn the next step in

the system,” Brinkley said. “It’s different to stand in the

background and play on the lower levels and then, all of a sudden,

you’re thrown into the varsity level and everything is moving

quicker.”

The action will most likely be quicker for Casey Peters, who will

be a junior in the fall. Peters is expected to take over at

quarterback, since Michael McDonald, a 2003 graduate, plans to be a

walk-on at USC. Peters was the starting quarterback for Newport’s

league champion junior varsity team last year.

One of his most notable targets will be returning starter Spencer

Link, who will also be a junior in the fall.

“We expect another great year from [Link],” Brinkley said. “He

turned into a great receiver for us. He’s also a really good

punt-return specialist.”

Brinkley said there are 92 freshmen and juniors enrolled in the

spring practices. There are four returning starters on offense and

two on defense, Brinkley said.

On defense, senior-to-be Matt Encinias will move from linebacker

to defensive back because, Brinkley said, “that will take the

pounding off him.” Encinias is also projected to be the team’s

starting tailback, the position vacated by school career rushing

yardage leader Dartangan Johnson, who will play for Santa Ana College

in the fall.

Fullback Peter Hoyt, who will also be a senior in the fall, will

be working in the backfield with Encinias.

Newport’s youth movement makes the spring practices all the more

critical.

“We just have to get ourselves ready to keep improving through the

preseason,” Brinkley said. “We’re going to need some time to

improve.”

The Sailors ended their spring practice sessions Friday.