It’s a Back Bay Party for Sailors

NEWPORT BEACH - If anyone tries to convince you that the Battle of

the Bay is just another football game, tell them Patton was just another

general or the Babe was just another home run hitter.

And if anyone checked out Newport Harbor High senior Mike Tunney’s

ear-to-ear grin Friday night, you’d know for sure the Sailors’ 35-3

triumph over Corona del Mar meant much more than just a nonleague win.

This is, after all, a football rivalry with a deep Back Bay tradition,

a time-honored community gathering that brings out the spirit in

everyone.

“It means I have bragging rights for the rest of my life,” said

Tunney, a two-way starter who was involved in several tackles from his

outside linebacker position, as Newport Harbor (2-0-1) shut down the Sea

Kings’ offense, limiting the designated hosts to only one first down in

the second half and a grand total of zero passing yards for 48 minutes.

“It’s the best,” Tunney said of the Battle of the Bay, which

celebrated its 38th renewal in front of an estimated 5,200 fans at

Newport Harbor. “It’s what I’ll remember the rest of my life.”

Guys like Tunney and junior middle linebacker Alan Saenz had plenty of

reason to boast following their victory, because no opponent is greater

than the Sea Kings. “It’s always great to beat them, even at the lower

levels,” Saenz said. “After the first couple of drives, our defense got

used to their offense and we just stuffed them.”

The Harbor defense jolted four Sea King quarterbacks and kept Corona

del Mar (0-3) out of the end zone. But the real dagger came from Newport

Harbor junior Chris Manderino, who started his first game at quarterback.

Manderino, who also starts at outside linebacker and forced a key

fumble in the second quarter, ended the Sea Kings’ hopes for all intent

and purpose with a wild 63-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put

the Tars ahead, 20-3.

“It was supposed to be a naked pass, but I decided to tuck and run,”

said Manderino, who put on a fake and turned the corner on the right side

in front of his visiting sideline. “I just got a couple of good blocks

(including one from tight end Nick Langsdorf), then cut to the inside.

Once I had an open field, I just ran in.”

Manderino, who changed direction at about the CdM 30-yard line, tucked

the ball in close and held on with both hands as he reached paydirt on

the longest scoring run of his career. “I just didn’t want anyone coming

up behind me and knocking the ball away,” Manderino said.

Just like the final score, Manderino went one way as the CdM defense

went another. “No one was there after (the 30),” he said of the game’s

biggest play.

Earlier, after senior tailback Andre Stewart got Newport Harbor on the

scoreboard with a touchdown run, Manderino drilled CdM tailback Grant

Estabrook on the second play of the Sea Kings’ ensuing series and caused

the first of two turnovers. Dayne Pfaff recovered for Newport Harbor,

and, 17 seconds later, Stewart scored again -- this time on a 39-yard

run.

“I went inside and hit (Estabrook), and the ball popped loose,”

Manderino said. “He started to go outside and I wrapped him up.”

From his throwing position, Manderino completed 2 of 5 passes for 49

yards, both to senior wide receiver Justin Jacobs, including a 38-yard

strike in the second quarter to highlight the Sailors’ first scoring

drive.

“There were some seniors who were highly motivated tonight,” Newport

Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. “They had to wait a whole year to get a

chance to come back (after last year’s 28-18 upset loss to the Sea

Kings). They were disappointed in the loss last year and they were very

focused all week.”

For those Newport Harbor seniors, they will indeed enjoy bragging

rights from now until Back Bay football eternity. If not the scoreboard,

Tunney’s smile was proof.