Tars face balancing act

Barry Faulkner

GLENDORA - An extended bus ride will transport the Newport Harbor

High football team to Friday’s 7:30 p.m. nonleague showdown with Glendora

at Citrus College.

But the Sailors’ defense may as well be entering a different dimension

when it squares off against the Tartans.

Thus far, Newport (3-0 and ranked No. 8 in Orange County and No. 3 in CIF

Southern Section Division VI) has had to deal with one-dimensional

offenses in victories over Orange and Corona del Mar, as well as a tie

with Marina.

Orange netted negative 25 yards on the ground, while Marina and CdM

combined for a meager 44 yards through the air.

The Baseline League’s Tartans (2-1), however, boast a balanced attack,

with which Newport Coach Jeff Brinkley is thoroughly impressed.

“I think this will be our toughest test to date,” said Brinkley,

attempting to break a tie with former CdM Coach Dave Holland and become

the Newport-Mesa District’s career victory leader. Brinkley is 106-50-1

in his 14th season at the Harbor helm. Holland, now at Laguna Beach High,

collected 106 wins in 20 seasons with the Sea Kings.

Win No. 107 won’t come as easily as the Sailors’ 33-0 home triumph over

Glendora last fall.

“They’re very much improved,” Brinkley said. “And they’re a lot more

physical than they were last year.”

Coach Paul Lopez’s squad routed Baldwin Park, 35-0, before knocking off

Alta Loma, the No. 4-ranked team in Division V, 41-25, in Week 2. Last

week, the Tartans fell, 34-14, to Norco, the defending CIF champion

Division V champion ranked No. 1 again this year.

“Norco has got some animals,” Brinkley said after reviewing the

videotape. “After playing Norco, (the Tartans) sure won’t be shellshocked

by us.”

Glendora is paced by senior running back Tom Nall, senior quarterback

Bruce Hatch and receiver Duncan Reid.

Nall has rushed for 420 yards and seven touchdowns on 60 carries, while

Hatch has thrown for 436 yards and four TDs (29 of 52 with four

interceptions).

The Newport defense, which sacked Hatch three times last fall and has

surrendered just 404 yards of total offense thus far, will not be at full

strength.

In its second week without senior safety Billy Clayton, who also starts

at receiver, the Tars will also have to replace outside

linebacker-fullback Mike Tunney, who rolled his ankle in the Battle of

the Bay.

Ends Garrett Troncale and Nick Langsdorf, as well as linebackers Chris

Manderino and Alan Saenz will lead the charge for the Sailors.

Andy Rankin will assume Tunney’s defensive duties and Kelsey Peterson,

who had an interception last week, continues to fill in for Clayton.

Offensively, the Tars are paced by tag-team tailbacks Andre Stewart and

Ryan Brill, who have benefited from increasing cohesion up front.

Stewart has compiled 388 yards on 59 carries and has seven TDs, while

Brill has 239 yards and three TDs in 30 carries off the bench.

“They’ve given us a good combo back there,” Brinkley said.

Manderino, making his second start at quarterback after winning a battle

for the job, has completed 10 of 22 for 170 yards and three TDs. He also

scored on a 63-yard scramble last week.

Senior Justin Jacobs is the leading receiver with seven catches for 127

yards and a TD.

Harbor, 22-0-1 in its last 23 games outside of Sea View League

competition, lost to Glendora, 26-10, in the opening round of the 1993

CIF playoffs in its last visit to Citrus College.