Brinkley close to No. 200

Tonight’s a big football game for Newport Harbor High Coach Jeff Brinkley. He’ll tell you the previous 280 have been as well.

Brinkley can record his 200th career victory at Newport Harbor if the Sailors can beat host Dana Hills tonight at 7.

In his 24th year, Brinkley sounded a little excited a day before the nonleague game.

“We’re just trying to win a game,” said Brinkley, who is 199-78-3 at Newport Harbor. “If we can do it [and get No. 200], it just means we did it as a program.”

The Sailors, ranked No. 10 in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division poll, are off to a 3-0 start, their first since 2005. In the fourth game of the year that season, Newport Harbor played Dana Hills and lost.

Dana Hills (2-1) wants history to repeat itself.

After last year’s devastating 25-24 loss at Newport Harbor, the Dolphins get another chance at the Sailors. The kicking game hurt Dana Hills in the last game, missing a 40-yard field-goal attempt with one second left and a 35-yarder as time expired.

“We gave them second chances [last year],” said Newport Harbor quarterback Austin Rios, referring to the second field-goal try, which Dana Hills received after the Sailors were flagged for a running-into-the-kicker penalty. “[Defensive coordinator Tony] Ciarelli, one of his big sayings is, ‘Never give any team or anyone a second chance.’

“They’re looking for revenge.”

Newport Harbor faces a team that has played two teams currently ranked in the top 10 in their respective divisions.

Edison is No. 1 in the Pac-5 and El Toro is No. 9 in the Southwest. The Dolphins lost to Edison, 34-17, and beat El Toro, 34-20.

The Dolphins also had an extra week to prepare for the Sailors, who are coming off impressive back-to-back victories.

Newport Harbor last week beat Back Bay rival CdM, 37-7, and Loyola of Los Angeles, 28-14, on Sept. 17. At the time, CdM was No. 2 in the Southern Division and Loyola No. 10 in the Pac-5 Division.

“It’s going to be a tough game again,” said Brinkley, who is 2-2 against Dana Hills the last four years.

One advantage the host school might not have against the Sailors is more fans. Expect to see many in the visitor’s stands because Brinkley is closing in on a coaching milestone only seven other coaches in Orange County have reached.