CIF Playoff Picture

The small gesture from the CIF office wasn’t really a break, but it was a sign of respect, and Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley was happy with that.

Newport Harbor (7-3), the third seeded team from the Sunset League, was paired against No. 2 Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks in the first round of the PAC-5 Division playoffs.

The Sailors will play at Notre Dame (8-2) Friday at 7:30, a year removed from the season that ended without a trip to the playoffs.

All the other third-seeded teams in the PAC-5 were paired with No. 1 seeds, and it was at the discretion of the CIF office to determine which No. 3 team would be paired against the No. 2 seed.

“I think it was nice that CIF considered us,” Brinkley said. “We were the only third-place team that got a second-place team. They obviously looked at our season in a good light.”

It doesn’t mean much of a break for the Sailors, though, who are making their 17th postseason appearance in Brinkley’s 20 seasons at Newport Harbor.

Senior Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist has committed to the University of Notre Dame and the Knights are an unfamiliar opponent. Notre Dame played Crespi Friday for the Serra League championship, and lost 23-3.

“There’s nobody you’re going to draw that’s going to be an easy draw,” Brinkley said. “We’re starting out with what we feel is one of the tougher teams, and if we go up there and win, we’re back home for the second round.”

Now’s the time when whatever lessons the Tars gleaned from playing Long Beach Poly and Edison will come in handy.

“I think playing in a tough league helps,” Brinkley said. “Notre Dame’s very good, but we’ve played some teams that are very good. It’s not that much of a shock to the kids to see a good football teams because we played them. We’ve played people that have some big-time players, and they’re like this group. These guys probably have 3-4 Division I football players on their team.”

The Sailors are 27-18 in the postseason under Brinkley, and have won three CIF championships in seven title game appaearances, most recently in 2005. Brinkley’s teams have been eliminated twice in the semifinals and four times in the quarterfinals.

The winner of Friday’s matchup will face the winner of the Long Beach Poly (9-1)-Santa Margarita (5-4) game in the quarterfinals, Nov. 23.