Two-minute drill

Newport Harbor High football coach Jeff Brinkley said his decision to

play overtime Friday in a 23-20 nonleague loss to Mira Costa was

based on a change in CIF Southern Section playoff qualification

policies this season.

New this season, the top four teams from seven-team leagues will

earn automatic CIF playoff berths, except in Division IX and Division

X. Previously, seven-team leagues garnered only three automatic

berths.

So, in divisions with seven-team leagues, like Newport Harbor in

Division VI (the Suburban League), as well as Costa Mesa and Estancia

in Division VII (the Golden West League), there will be no at-large

playoff berth.

This means Newport Harbor will have to finish in the top three,

while Costa Mesa and Estancia can finish in the top four of the

seven-team Golden West League, to earn automatic playoff bids.

So, with no advantage to a tie in a nonleague game -- since

overall record is now not a factor in potential consideration for an

at-large playoff berth -- Brinkley said he would prefer to play

overtime to decide a winner.

Overtime in nonleague games is still contingent on the pregame

agreement of both schools.

* The Sage Hill School defense was just as effective as the

offense in the Lightning’s 47-6 nonleague football victory Friday

over visiting Twin Pines.

The Lightning held the Bobcats to minus-16 yards of total offense

until 45 seconds remained, when running back Armani Foster broke a

60-yard touchdown run.

Still, Sage held the Bobcats to 44 offensive yards and just two

first downs.

“The defense has been pretty consistent all year,” Sage Coach Tom

Monarch said. “But we know we will have much more formidable foes

when [Academy League] play begins.”

* A review of the game videotape revealed Estancia High senior

quarterback Ryan Watson tied a school record with 19 completions in a

50-6 loss to Orange Friday night, Eagles Coach Brian Barnes said.

Watson finished 19 of 37, matching the single-game completion mark

set by Jim McCahill in 1980.

* The Northwood High defense that shut out Corona del Mar, 21-0,

Thursday at Irvine High is being coordinated for the first time by

former Irvine defensive coordinator J.C. Clarke.

Clarke’s seven-year tenure working with Irvine Coach Terry Henigan

included a 5-4 record in nine games against Newport Harbor.

Included in those meetings was the Vaqueros’ 14-0 victory in the

CIF Southern Section Division VI title game in 2000. In that season,

during which Henigan regularly praised Clarke’s abilities, Irvine

went 14-0, allowed 90 points, the fewest in Orange County, and just

33 points in their last eight games, including only six in four

playoff wins.

Northwood is now allowing just 7.5 points per game through six

games.

Clarke coached the secondary last season, his first at Northwood.

* Among the former Newport Harbor High players watching Friday’s

loss to visiting Mira Costa from the sideline was 2005 graduate Kasey

Peters.

A two-year starter at quarterback for the Sailors, Peters had

earned the starting job this fall as a freshman at Saddleback

College. But he broke his right throwing forearm in a recent game and

is out for the season.

* Brinkley doubled back to the end of the line of players

exchanging handshakes to offer brief words of encouragement and a tap

on the helmet to the Newport Habor player who missed the 24-yard

field goal that ended overtime in the Tars’ loss.

* Before Friday’s game, Sage Hill held a brief ceremony honoring

the founding faculty, students and staff.

About 30 people were present to accept a commemorative plaque,

which, on Jan. 5 -- Alumni Day -- will be installed at an

undetermined location on campus.

* CdM suffered its second shutout loss this season. It’s the fifth

time in the last nine seasons the Sea Kings have been blanked twice

in the same campaign.

* Northwood’s first-year principal, Cassie Parham, is married to

University High football coach Mark Cunningham.

* Faced with Mira Costa’s spread offense, Newport Harbor altered

its traditional four-three defensive scheme, going with three down

linemen and four linebackers when the Mustangs lined up with no backs

in the backfield.

* Mira Costa senior quarterback Kevin Romero replaced the

Mustangs’ starting kicker, after the latter missed a conversion kick

following the team’s first touchdown.

Romero, whom Coach Don Morrow said was the team’s kicker heading

into preseason practice, but was displaced in favor of someone with a

stronger leg, kicked two PATs and the game-winning 31-yard field goal

in overtime.