Unheralded Uhl helps anchor Tars

Ryan Uhl footbal player of week storySenior tackle’s ability to clog the middle was crucial in Newport Harbor’s semifinal shutout of Tustin.Most members of the Newport Harbor High football program awoke Sunday with the satisfaction and anticipation that came with earning a trip to the CIF Southern Section Division VI championship game.

But before he could enjoy the Sailors’ 28-0 semifinal victory over host Tustin the night before, senior Ryan Uhl first had his weekly inventory to perform.

Knots in the neck? Check.

Aching appendages? Oh, yeah.

Welts and bruises du jour? Too many to count before breakfast.

“I think I was more sore than I’ve ever been,” Uhl said the morning after helping the Tars advance to Saturday’s championship date with Valencia. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College. “I felt like I was hit by a truck.”

Little wonder, since Uhl’s responsibilities against Tustin’s smashmouth double wing offense amounted to a repeated road kill impersonation.

“The coaches wanted me to shoot the gaps and try to get as much penetration as possible,” said the 6-foot, 270-pound defensive tackle. “It was basically a goal-line technique on every play.”

The goal of any defensive lineman is to bisect the path of the ball. But that comes with a caveat at Newport Harbor, where the front four -- particularly the two inside positions -- are more about sacrifice than statistics.

“My job is basically to absorb blockers,” said Uhl, whose powerful legs help him play frequent double teams to a stalemate.

He set the school record in the offseason with a squat of 540 pounds.

Against Tustin, Uhl’s mission was to create a pile as far into the Tillers’ backfield as possible. If he somehow managed to latch onto a ballcarrier, it was merely an added bonus.

“I just wanted to keep fighting,” said Uhl, who is resigned to the fact that it isn’t always a fair fight.

“It’s never really clean,” he said. “There’s always people twisting on your ankles or laying on your back. Those Tustin guys were probably the toughest guys I’ve gone against this year.”

Uhl’s play helped limit Tustin’s ground game up the middle. Brian Lambert, a 6-1, 285-pound fullback, carried four times on dive plays Saturday. Only once did Lambert, nicknamed “Bone Crusher” by his teammates, gain more than 2 yards.

“The defensive scheme the coaches put in was basically flawless,” said Uhl, who helped the Sailors blank Tustin for the first time this season.

“We knew [the Tillers] had a high-powered offense, because they scored 42 points on Orange Lutheran [upsetting the No. 2-seeded Lancers in the first round of the playoffs]. We weren’t expecting a shutout.”

A two-year starter, Uhl shifted from noseguard to tackle about midway through this season. He has 22 tackles this season, nine solo stops.

More importantly, he has the appreciation of the Sailors’ coaching staff, including Coach Jeff Brinkley.

“He has played well,” Brinkley said. “In our system, we don’t ask those guys to get many tackles. But he makes it possible for our linebackers to make plays.”

Uhl said there are very few who appreciate his thankless role, but he covets the respect of those within the program.

“The coaches know, you know, and your teammates know if you are doing the job,” Uhl said. “I don’t really mind if I ever get any attention from anyone else.”

Uhl also relishes feedback from his dad, Scott Uhl, who is the strength coach for cross-town rival Corona del Mar.

“My dad has definitely helped me become a better player,” Ryan Uhl said.

RYAN UHL

Born: Sept. 11, 1988

Hometown: Costa Mesa

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 260

Sport: Football

Positions: Defensive tackle

Coach: Jeff Brinkley

Favorite food: “Pasta”

Favorite movie: “Gladiator”

Favorite athletic moment: “Beating Mayfair in the [2004 CIF Southern Section Division VI] semifinals [at Cerritos College]. It was such a close game.”

Week in review: He anchored the Sailors’ defensive front in a 28-0 victory over host Tustin in a CIF Southern Section Division VI semifinal Saturday night.

Daily Pilot

Collector sports card series200512089B1LOH03No Caption20051208ir5lncknCOURTENAY NEARBURG / DAILY PILOT(LA)