Newport Harbor football team back in CIF playoffs

A while after Newport Harbor High’s 42-7 victory over Marina, the congratulations came pouring in for Sailors’ football coach Jeff Brinkley and his staff.

The commendations weren’t solely for the Sunset League win, but for the fact that after a one-year absence from the postseason, the Sailors are back in the playoffs, this time in the highest division of the CIF Southern Section, the Pac-5.

Newport Harbor (7-2, 3-1 in league) had its string of seven straight playoff apperances end last year, but with its win and Esperanza’s triumph over Los Alamitos Friday, the Sailors secured a playoff berth.

Late Friday night, Newport Harbor fans kept in touch with those they knew who were close to a computer, on the Internet, tracking scores, specifically Esperanza vs. Los Alamitos.

Sailors’ offensive line coach Ricky Lewis had an inside source. His mother is a school busdriver. She drove the Los Alamitos football team to Veteran’s Stadium in Long Beach and periodically checked in with her son via cell phone.

She had to tell him of the final play, that the Griffins had their final pass attempt in the end zone knocked down and they lost, 30-24. Good news for the Sailors.

“She was giving [Lewis] a play by play,” Brinkley said. “And, he was giving us the information.”

The information meant that Newport Harbor had reached one of its goals set before the season began, actually after last season, when the Sailors realized they would be at home for the playoffs.

“That’s always your goal to make the playoffs,” Brinkley said. “It’s on any level. The college teams want to get to a bowl game. The pros want to go to the playoffs. That’s what we’re trying to do. You have to get in the playoffs. In this league, that’s extremely tough.”

Brinkley stressed the Sailors aren’t content and know they have a chance to capture a share of the Sunset League title with a victory over visiting Edison Thursday at 7 p.m.

— Steve Virgen