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.

ROGER CARLSON They are insurance brokers, real estate brokers, financial consultants, mortgage brokers, even candlestick makers, a minister and a football coach, the remnants of past glories on the football field for the 1994 edition of Newport Harbor High football, which lit up Friday Night Lights with a saga worthy of any movie script. Coach Jeff Brinkley's eighth team at Harbor, it posted an unreal 14-0-0 record, with half of those victories so close, they were, on the average, little more than a field goal's difference.

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)

TODAY ART RECEPTION Meet French artist Monique Bornstein at a reception with wine and complimentary hors d'oeuvres at Bayside Restaurant from 4 to 6 p.m. Bornstein's paintings are part of the Fall Art Exhibit at Bayside, 900 Bayside Dr., Newport Beach. Call: (949) 721-1222 or visit www.baysiderestaurant.com . MODEL SEARCH More Magazine and Wilhemina Models are looking for women over 40 to be their next cover girl. Talbots at South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, is hosting the competition from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Events include a fashion show, raffle and consultations.

When: Tonight, 7 Where: Davidson Field Key Dolphins: Sr. RB Brett Giesen (39 carries for 365 yards and five TDs); Sr. QB Sean Schroeder (50 for 75 passing for 872 yards and nine TDs and one interception); WR Dylan Denso (17 catches for 409 yards and four TDs) Key Sailors: Sr. RB Michael Helfrich (31 carries for 185 yards and two TDs); Sr. WR JB Green (10 catches for 117 yards and two TDs); Sr. QB Andrew McDonald (27 for 46 passing for 331 yards and three TDs and three interceptions)

A fair share of happy birthday cards and gifts used to flow Coach Al Irwin's way down through the years at Newport Harbor High, Orange Coast College and UC Irvine. But when the grand mark of 85 arrives on Tuesday, Irwin has decided "that's enough." With amusement, he said, "At my age, I don't need any more gifts." It is fair to say that he never discouraged a big smile or a pat on the back. One of his main regrets years ago was that he wasn't born in Newport Beach, although he would spend most all his life in Newport Beach right on the ocean front.

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.

COSTA MESA — Last year, Corona del Mar High football coach Jason Hitchens got his first mouthful of the Battle of the Bay. Walking with his team near the home stands before the game at Newport Harbor, Hitchens heard the noise. “It was a unique sound for one thing,” said Hitchens, now in his second year. “Having 7- and 8-year-olds telling you why you suck, basically how they feel about you, when you come on to the field was different.” Hitchens and his Sea Kings didn’t have to deal with any overzealous kids before this year’s game.

In a perfect football world, Coach Jeremy Osso said his Costa Mesa High team starts the season with a 3-0 record. Leading the Mustangs to a victory in their third game of the season for the first time in his four-year career will suffice. The Mustangs (1-2) look for another win tonight when they play Santa Ana (2-0) at Newport Harbor High at 7. Figuring out the day and site was problematic. The two teams settled on Davidson Field after Osso said Costa Mesa asked host Santa Ana to push the nonleague game back a day. “We thank them because we had to change the day because we have back-to-school night Thursday,” said Osso, whose Mustangs are going for back-to-back wins.

Before coaching a football game this season, Newport Harbor High’s Jeff Brinkley went over the nonleague portion of the schedule. In his eyes, each of the five games looked big. One stood out, the site more than the opponent in Corona del Mar. That contest has arrived. The Sailors and Sea Kings share Davidson Field, which is located on Newport Harbor’s campus. They won’t be playing there tonight. The Sea Kings moved their home game to Orange Coast College to gain a home-field edge in the 48th edition of the Battle of the Bay that starts at 7:30.