Unbeatables make return on Thursday

ROGER CARLSON

They are insurance brokers, real estate brokers, financial

consultants, mortgage brokers, even candlestick makers, a minister

and a football coach, the remnants of past glories on the football

field for the 1994 edition of Newport Harbor High football, which lit

up Friday Night Lights with a saga worthy of any movie script.

Coach Jeff Brinkley’s eighth team at Harbor, it posted an unreal

14-0-0 record, with half of those victories so close, they were, on

the average, little more than a field goal’s difference.

Many of them will return to Davidson Field on the Tars’ campus

Thursday night as the featured item on a featured night when the 2004

Sailors tackle Aliso Niguel in a Sea View League showdown of

heavyweights.

Brinkley has fond memories of that unit, a team which “bought into

everything,” he said.

“They were just a bunch of winners,” Brinkley said. “They always

seemed to find a way and they enjoyed playing the game.”

Here is an update on many of those who played big roles in that

season of seasons:

John Giordani, quarterback -- A Vanderbilt University graduate, he

is a real estate broker in San Francisco, where he resides with wife

Sara.

Brian Johnson, tailback and cornerback -- went to Orange Coast,

resides in Costa Mesa, single and reportedly works with Oakley

sunglasses.

Matt Riggle, fullback, outside linebacker -- Spent one year at OCC

before breaking his leg, lives with his dad in Costa Mesa and is a

freshman football coach at Newport Harbor.

Jon Benzinger, wide receiver -- has a ministry in South Orange

County and was recently married.

Danny Pulido, wide receiver and free safety -- Single, he is

finishing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Oregon and

working for the football program videotaping practices and games.

Mike Freeman, tight end, outside linebacker -- Spent two years at

Coast before graduating from UC Berkeley, where he started at

fullback. Married with one child and residing in Costa Mesa, he is in

the insurance industry.

Sherif Pepic, left tackle -- A Brooklyn native, he works at his

family’s restaurant, Massimos at 17th and Tustin. Spent three years

at OCC and some time at Oregon State. Single and a Costa Mesa

resident, he said he’ll be at Massimos “the rest of my life.”

Brandon Baker, left guard -- A University of Colorado graduate, he

resides in Newport Beach with brother Brett. Single, he’s a financial

consultant.

Brandon Hetrick, center -- Single, has a degree from UC Irvine in

psychology and works for State Farm Insurance. Resides on the

Peninsula.

Bill Johns, right guard, nose guard -- Is the co-founder of a

business called “Great Ideas” with an emphasis on “electric” candles,

powered by batteries. One of QVC’s featured items, they can be seen

at Beach’n Backyards at 291 E. 17th in Costa Mesa. Single and a Costa

Mesa resident, he’s a graduate of the University of Arizona.

James Moureaux, right tackle, defensive end -- Single and a

resident of Costa Mesa, he’s a mortgage broker.

Tom Eaton, defensive end -- He’s single, resides in Hollywood and

works in the music management business.

Jack Hogan, defensive end -- A University of Colorado graduate,

he’s single and resides in Newport Beach. He’s in commercial real

estate.

Dan McDonough, tight end, inside linebacker -- Played for three

years at St. Mary’s College and graduated with a financial

background. A real estate broker, he’s single and resides in Corona

del Mar.

Scott Sandstrom, cornerback -- Resides in San Diego, married with

one child.

Dan Eadie, wide receiver, rover -- Resides in Santa Ana with wife

Heidi.

Moises Piedra, offensive and defensive tackle -- Resides in Santa

Ana with wife Guadalupe and is in the liquor industry. They have two

children, Alexis and Aaron.

Dan Berger, wide receiver and defensive back -- Recently married

to Vanessa. A mortgage broker, he resides in Santa Ana.

Edon Kagasoff, tailback, defensive back -- Single, he resides in

Manhattan Beach and is attending Chapman College. Has been featured

as a model in several high-end magazine and television commercials.

Reed Johns, Bill’s brother, a sophomore center who went on to long

snap at the University of Arizona for two years.

Jeremy Mason was the winning edge in the 21-19 victory over

Canyon, scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run and rushing 12 straight

times in the late going to run out the clock.

Jeff Purdy was the team’s able kicker, and Sky Conway was an

unsung hero. Conway transferred to Corona del Mar for his senior.

Latest word is that he has been attending a fire academy.

A couple of sophomores who would soon become All-CIF products were

Joe Urban and Josiah Fredriksen. Urban played most of the CIF

Southern Section Division VI title game after Riggle was injured.

Some others who weren’t exactly household names, but played a big

role in the team’s success were Andre Woodward, Darren Thordsen,

Marco Munoz, Bruce Roberts and Andy Langsdorf.

Woodward was in the Sailors’ program for four years and is held in

high regard.

Thordsen was a scout-team running back his senior year and one of

the big keys on the practice field.

Munoz was another who made a big impact on the practice field,

Roberts was another whose presence was always felt, and Langsdorf was

a starter at the season’s outset, but suffered a knee injury in the

second game against Ocean View and did not return to the starting

lineup.

Most of them figure to be present Thursday.

Matt Riggle’s dad, Dave, commented in the aftermath of Harbor’s

20-15 victory over Servite in the CIF Division VI final at Orange

Coast College, “You guys won’t even realize what has happened until

five years from now.”

Now, 10 years later, I think it has all sunk in.

*

There’s nothing quite like fresh air and a brisk pace, and in

addition, the company of champions.

That’s what is available on Saturday at the Walk to D’Feet ALS in

Irvine’s Mason Regional Park, at University Drive and Culver, on

Saturday. Former Newport Harbor High standout Rob Yardley will be

honoring his dad, George, who succumbed to Lou Gehrig’s Disease, also

known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Aug. 12.

Sponsored by the ALS Association, Orange County Chapter, the walk

begins at 10 a.m. with registration and check-in slated for 8:30 a.m.

An opening ceremony is at 9 a.m.

“We just want people who loved George Yardley to have a chance to

walk together on a day dedicated to fighting the disease that took

his life,” Rob said in an e-mail.

Information can be obtained by calling Denise Greek at (714)

938-1080.

* ROGER CARLSON is the former sports editor for the Daily Pilot.

He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].