As Cecil Whiteside prepares for his final high school football game, he looked back to the lone one he missed during his stellar four years at Newport Harbor High.
When Whiteside travels next month to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game in San Antonio, he will feel much better than he did toward the end of the season.
More than a month away from the game and rest can heal all wounds for Whiteside, who’s the Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year.
The UC Berkeley-bound linebacker was part of the Sailors’ highs and lows as a senior. He came into the season as Newport Harbor’s most highly recruited player in Coach Jeff Brinkley’s 24 years at the school.
The Sailors started strong at 3-0, and then lost two straight games before Whiteside helped Brinkley reach the 200-win milestone at Newport Harbor.
The Sailors fell back down, losing back-to-back Sunset League games. One of those games Whiteside missed.
Having to sit out against Fountain Valley hurt Whiteside more than the pain forcing him to miss the game. A contusion of the elbow limited the mobility in his right arm.
Whiteside suffered the injury while returning a kickoff the week before in a loss at home to Edison. After passing some tests at halftime, the three-time first-team All-Sunset League pick gutted it out and returned in the second half to play only defense.
With the elbow swelling up after the game, Whiteside’s chances of returning the next week were dire. The Sailors’ CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoff hopes began to look just as grim.
“I wanted to play,” said Whiteside, the Dream Team Defensive Player of the Year the previous two years, who all he could do that night against the Barons was encourage teammates from the sideline. “It was hard watching the team play.”
The Sailors fought back without their 6-foot-3, 222-pound star, making it a game late.
There would be no upset without Whiteside unable to tackle anyone or be a threat on the field as a wide receiver. Newport Harbor lost to Fountain Valley, 37-32, dropping its second straight home game.
With the Sailors at 1-2 in league, they were in must-win situations in the final two games of the regular season.
Whiteside returned more determined than ever to help Newport Harbor win out for a chance at qualifying for the playoffs.
