Barry Faulkner
Leave it to familiar nemesis Irvine High to put a kink in the
Newport Harbor football team's Sea View League title plans.
By defeating first-place Foothill Friday night, 24 hours after
Newport Harbor had dispatched Woodbridge to improve to 3-1 in league,
Irvine muddled what the Sailors hoped would be crystal clear heading
into Thursday's battle with Foothill at Tustin High.
Had Foothill gotten past Irvine, the winner of the Newport
Harbor-Foothill clash would have been the league's No. 1
representative in the CIF Southern Section Division VI Playoffs.
Now, with Foothill, Newport Harbor and Irvine tied atop the league
standings, and Laguna Hills lurking one game back, several scenarios
surround the final week of the regular season.
If victorious over Foothill, Newport Harbor will at least claim a
share of its second straight Sea View crown. The Sailors could be
outright champions if they win and Laguna Hills knocks off host
Irvine Thursday.
Should Newport and Irvine win, the Sailors would share the title
with the Vaqueros. Irvine, however, would be the league's No. 1
playoff representative, with Newport No. 2, based on the Vaqs' 28-20
triumph over the Tars on Oct. 25.
If Newport loses and Irvine wins, the Tars would finish third.
This would mean they would be on the road for the first round of the
playoffs for the first time since 1997.
Should Newport lose and Laguna Hills win, the Sailors, Vaqueros
and Hawks would tie for second. Since all would be 1-1 against one
another, the Nos. 2 and 3 representatives would be determined by coin
flip.
Even in the least favorable scenario, a three-way tie for second
and losing the coin flip to Irvine and Laguna Hills, the Sailors are
virtually assured of collecting the division's lone at-large berth.
Among other potential Division VI, at-large qualifiers, only
Katella from the Empire League and Bellflower from the Suburban
League could match Newport's 7-3 record, should it be forced into
at-large qualification.
Newport was ranked No. 6 in last week's Division VI poll, ahead of
No. 7 Katella sand No. 9 Bellflower. Katella, however, figures to
drop in the poll, after losing, 21-0, to Valencia Friday.
Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley is well aware of the scenarios,
but prefers to keep things simple.
"I think we're in the playoffs, but I know if we don't win, we
don't have a chance to be champions," Brinkley said. "We're still
basically playing for the championship this week."
