Davidson Field

The early days of football at Newport Harbor High began 71 years ago and found the early players from 1931-34 having to endure some intense challenges on a dirt practice field behind the main gym. The late Judd "The Bear" Sutherland said he remembered the practice field. "It was like concrete," he said. "It was covered with broken glass, rocks, nails and debris from construction work via the late 1920s and '30s." Sutherland, the '34 captain, said "it was a day of iron-man football with our small squads."

Danette Goulet COSTA MESA -- Supporters of the city's two high schools are moving ahead with plans to update their athletic facilities after a citizens' committee deemed the projects unnecessary. In its recommendations to the school board last week, the facilities committee included repairs to Davidson Field at Newport Harbor High School while leaving off athletic improvements to Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools. For years, officials at Costa Mesa High School have wanted to install a 50-meter pool, similar to the ones at Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor high schools, and to improve its pitiful practice fields.

Davidson Field at Newport Harbor High is a unique high school football venue. Well, it's assuredly rare in Orange County. There are wooden benches in the stands for seating. The field is not made up of the latest artificial turf, but of grass. Davidson Field is old school. It only makes sense to have the same type of aura for the name of its press box. That name became official Thursday, a special night for a special man. In big, blue lettering the name was unveiled before a football game: Roger Carlson Press Box. Mr. Roger Carlson, the former sports editor of the Daily Pilot, who worked at the paper for 40 years, said he was overwhelmed to see such a sight, which came on his 75th birthday.

Future Sailors cheerleaders showed their stuff at Newport Harbor High School's football game at Davidson Field against San Clemente High. Newport Harbor's junior cheer camp participants gave a performance at halftime Friday night, demonstrating everything they learned during the week-long camp over the summer. The camp brought together about 130 pre-K to eighth-grade girls who wanted to learn the basics of cheer, song and baton twirling from the Newport Harbor High cheerleaders. The camp, which was the squad's biggest fundraiser of the year, helped the girls build confidence and a sense of rhythm while instilling the importance of exercising and being healthy, advisor Kristin Higman has said.

The Battle of the Bay high school football rivalry is special. The players know each other. Many grew up together and played on youth teams together. As I found out last year, one player at Corona del Mar can even be best friends with someone at Newport Harbor. Four years ago, one cousin, Dillon Norton, played for the Sea Kings and another, Parker Norton, for the Sailors. The experience is one families like the Nortons share. The two programs even share the football field on Newport Harbor's campus.

Let there be light – and flashes from cameras. And caps flying all over the place. And late-night parties. And sleeping in. And crowded beaches. And, most importantly, perhaps, no more homework. At least until college. Throngs of Newport-Mesa seniors will receive their diplomas today in ceremonies that will mark the first day of summer vacation and the entry into the so-called "real world." At Estancia High School on Wednesday, it was clear that the maintenance and operations staff had kicked into overdrive, setting up hundreds of plastic seats on the green artificial turf inside a $9.5 million stadium that opened two years ago. "It's going to be crazy," said Mario Cerda, a maintenance worker.

Tony Altobelli Clearly, the toughest task over the past four years for any portion of the media would be trying to find some dirt on Newport Harbor High volleyball player April Ross. "The only dirt I know of April is in her messy room," her mother, Margie, said with a laugh. Now April Ross can add the Gatorade National High School Girls Volleyball Player of the Year Award to the clutter. "She's an absolutely wonderful daughter," Margie Ross said.

When: Tonight, 7 Where: Newport Harbor High Key Sailors: Jr. WR-LB Cecil Whiteside (25 catches for 321 yards and four TDs); Sr. RB-SS Michael Helfrich (113 carries for 619 yards and five TDs); Sr. CB Danny Miller. Key Vikings: Sr. QB Zack Couey (81 for 162 passing for 879 yards and five TDs and seven interceptions); Sr. RB Sam Wilson (832 yards and 11 TDs); SR. WR Drew Jordan (19 catches for 221 yards and three TDs). Breakdown: With two regular-season games left, Newport Harbor (5-3, 1-2 in the Sunset League)

When/where: Tonight, 7, at Davidson Field Key Sea Kings: Junior running back Alex Swigert (31 carries for 155 yards and three TDs); senior quarterback Mitch Sands (19 for 37 passing for 234 yards and seven TDs and one interception); senior wide receiver Noah Molnar (five catches for 114 yards and four TDs) Key Sailors: Senior wide receiver/cornerback/returner JB Green (eight catches for 54 yards and one TD, one rushing TD, 77-yard touchdown kickoff return, 51-yard touchdown punt return)

I would like to thank the Costa Mesa Fire Department for the quick response to my mom's residence on March 25. She had fallen in her backyard, got herself up and into her kitchen to clean her blood soaked glasses so she could see. She made it to the front porch and called her next door neighbor who called 911. He had been chatting with a veteran firefighter who sat with her while and asked the right questions until the fire department got...

Future Sailors cheerleaders showed their stuff at Newport Harbor High School's football game at Davidson Field against San Clemente High. Newport Harbor's junior cheer camp participants gave a performance at halftime Friday night, demonstrating everything they learned during the week-long camp over the summer. The camp brought together about 130 pre-K to eighth-grade girls who wanted to learn the basics of cheer, song and baton twirling from the Newport Harbor High cheerleaders. The camp, which was the squad's biggest fundraiser of the year, helped the girls build confidence and a sense of rhythm while instilling the importance of exercising and being healthy, advisor Kristin Higman has said.

The Battle of the Bay high school football rivalry is special. The players know each other. Many grew up together and played on youth teams together. As I found out last year, one player at Corona del Mar can even be best friends with someone at Newport Harbor. Four years ago, one cousin, Dillon Norton, played for the Sea Kings and another, Parker Norton, for the Sailors. The experience is one families like the Nortons share. The two programs even share the football field on Newport Harbor's campus.

Davidson Field at Newport Harbor High is a unique high school football venue. Well, it's assuredly rare in Orange County. There are wooden benches in the stands for seating. The field is not made up of the latest artificial turf, but of grass. Davidson Field is old school. It only makes sense to have the same type of aura for the name of its press box. That name became official Thursday, a special night for a special man. In big, blue lettering the name was unveiled before a football game: Roger Carlson Press Box. Mr. Roger Carlson, the former sports editor of the Daily Pilot, who worked at the paper for 40 years, said he was overwhelmed to see such a sight, which came on his 75th birthday.

Let there be light – and flashes from cameras. And caps flying all over the place. And late-night parties. And sleeping in. And crowded beaches. And, most importantly, perhaps, no more homework. At least until college. Throngs of Newport-Mesa seniors will receive their diplomas today in ceremonies that will mark the first day of summer vacation and the entry into the so-called "real world." At Estancia High School on Wednesday, it was clear that the maintenance and operations staff had kicked into overdrive, setting up hundreds of plastic seats on the green artificial turf inside a $9.5 million stadium that opened two years ago. "It's going to be crazy," said Mario Cerda, a maintenance worker.

NEWPORT BEACH — On any given play, the Newport Harbor High football team knew Kyle Middlebrooks could score in a matter of seconds. The Fountain Valley running back burned the Sailors last year, scoring a game-winning 52-yard touchdown in the final 30 seconds. This year, the Barons used him as a decoy and Newport Harbor forgot about the quarterback Thursday night. Dominic Ragland did it all for Fountain Valley. The lefty scored twice on runs, recovered a fumble, and leaped and came away with the football to prevent the Sailors from recovering an onside-kick late as the Barons won the Sunset League road game, 37-32, and remained undefeated.

Out of all the positives of following in the footsteps of his father at Newport Harbor High, Parker Norton says the football stories rank up at the top. Kirk Norton told his son one recently which hit home. As Newport Harbor prepared for tonight’s home Sunset League showdown at 7 with Edison, father and son spoke about those who doubt the Sailors can pull off the upset. They can understand why. Edison (6-0, 1-0 in league) is the top-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division poll and No. 5 in the state by CalHiSports.

NEWPORT BEACH — In order to join the 200-win coaches club in Orange County Friday night, Jeff Brinkley had to guide his Newport Harbor High football team past a club member’s team. Brinkley earned No. 200 against the coach with the most victories in the county. Newport Harbor stunned Los Alamitos, coming from behind to win the Sunset League opener, 23-20, and snap a two-game losing streak. Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes shook hands with Brinkley on the field, congratulating him on reaching the milestone.

No. 200 seems likely for Newport Harbor High Coach Jeff Brinkley tonight. If there’s a football team the Sailors have beaten in years past, it’s Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach. Newport Harbor (3-1) tries to get Brinkley his 200th career victory at the school when it plays host to Mira Costa (2-2) at 7. The Sailors return to the field with a bad taste in their mouths. Last week, they suffered their first setback, getting upset at Dana Hills, 41-7, and losing their No. 10 ranking in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division poll.

NEWPORT HARBOR — During a break, one of the officials came over and asked Costa Mesa High Coach Jeremy Osso for a drink. “Is this Gatorade?” the official asked Osso and the coach nodded no after he handed over a bottle. “Where’s the Gatorade?” the official said. “We play on turf, man,” Osso responded. “No Gatorade allowed.” The home team usually provides the sports drinks. The official thought Osso’s Mustangs played host to Friday night’s game against Santa Ana. Newport Harbor High used to be Costa Mesa’s home field until last year.