Los Alamitos

LONG BEACH - Whenever Jeff Brinkley has something noteworthy to say, there's someone at Newport Harbor High who jots down what comes out of the longtime coach's mouth. He predicted sophomore kicker Michael Schultz would win a game for the Sailors this year. Schultz came through in a big way for Newport Harbor in a regular-season finale with CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoff implications. The sophomore converted a game-winning 37-yard field goal in overtime as the Sailors rallied to beat host Los Alamitos, 31-28, in a Sunset League game at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach on Thursday.

Newport Harbor (5-4, 3-1) vs. Los Alamitos (6-3, 2-2) When/where: Thursday night, 7 at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach Key Sailors: Sr. RB-LB Talalelei Teaupa (1,259 yards and eight TDs on 181 carries); Sr. LB-Marty Taylor; Jr. WR-CB Quest Truxton (31 catches for 514 yards and eight TDs) Key Griffins: Jr. WR Dashawn Gordon (40 catches for 478 yards and four TDs); Sr. QB Cody Marshall (1,541 yards, 12 TDs and nine INTs on 112-of-186 passing); Sr. OL Alex Redmond Breakdown: Newport Harbor, ranked No. 9 in the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division poll, can clinch one of the Sunset League's three automatic playoff berths with a victory against the No. 8 Griffins … Sailors are tied for second place in league with Huntington Beach and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Oilers, who play first-place Edison on Friday … Los Alamitos, which is in fourth place in league, needs to beat the Sailors to increase its chances of making the postseason … If Newport Harbor and Huntington Beach both lose, the two schools would share second place with Los Alamitos and a coin flip would determine the league's No. 2 and No. 3 playoff entries … Sailors have won four of the past five meetings against the Griffins … Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes has 301 career victories, the most in Orange County history, and Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley has 218 wins, fifth most in the county.

Kristen Case called it one of the top three matches she has seen as a girls' tennis coach at Newport Harbor High. The fact that seniors Megan Bathen and Kaitlyn Cosenza were involved wasn't surprising. Top-seeded Sarah Edwards and Sophia Bott of Los Alamitos edged second-seeded Bathen and Cosenza, 6-4, 6-7, 10-3, in the Sunset League doubles final Oct. 18 at Los Al. The level of play was spectacular from both duos, Case said. They both qualified for CIF Individuals, which begin Nov. 19. "It brought out the best in both teams," Case said.

NEWPORT BEACH - Midway through the second quarter, half of the stadium lights at Newport Harbor High went out. Maybe it was a sign for Marina to head home early on Thursday night. Whenever a football team has faced the Vikings in Sunset League play since 2005, it has been a sure win for the opponent. Newport Harbor hopes its 37-0 shutout of Marina guarantees the Sailors a berth into the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoffs. They certainly moved a step closer to qualifying for the postseason for the fourth straight year.

Corona del Mar High moved closer to finishing unbeaten in the Pacific Coast League for the second time in three football seasons. The Sea Kings shut out host Irvine, 41-0, Thursday to improve to 3-0 in league play. With two league games left, CdM is in first place and ranked No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division. The Sea Kings (6-2), have alienated each of their first three league opponents, outscoring them, 132-34. CdM plays host to Woodbridge (4-4, 2-1) Friday at Newport Harbor High at 7 p.m. Woodbridge shares second place in league with Northwood (3-5, 2-1)

NEWPORT BEACH - The Newport Harbor High girls' tennis team did not leave the courts Monday afternoon with its fifth straight Sunset League title. After pushing Los Alamitos to the brink in the league finale, the Sailors walked off with something they saw as more valuable - perspective. The Griffins took the league crown after outlasting the Sailors 82-72 on games, after the two teams each won nine sets at Newport Harbor High. But, considering Los Al defeated Newport Harbor 15-3 in the teams' first league meeting Sept.

Newport Harbor High senior Dan Stevens said he treats every game like it's a CIF final. With some kids, that might seem like just hyperbole. With Stevens, one really gets the sense that it's true. "If the game's at 5 [p.m.], and we're there at 3:30 to warm up, I'm starting to stretch at home by 2," Stevens said. "I don't let myself relax or get myself into a lackadaisical mindset. I approach every game with the same intensity. " Watch the boys' water polo set guard in the water and it becomes clear: Stevens means business.

LOS ALAMITOS - The Newport Harbor High girls' volleyball team traveled to Los Alamitos on Wednesday to play for first place in the Sunset League. The last time these rivals met on the court was last year, when the CIF Southern Section Division 1-AA title was at stake. Both programs are former shells of themselves when it comes to their starting lineups. The Griffins lost five starters and the Sailors four. Despite the losses to graduation, each team has played at a high level this season.

IRVINE - The six-on-five was crisp out of the timeout for the Newport Harbor High boys' water polo team. Mitch Mendoza passed it to Preston Lee, who found Dan Stevens for a strong shot and goal. "It was Preston to the post, and slam dunk," Newport Harbor Coach Robert Lynn said. The whole weekend could be considered a slam dunk for the Sailors. Stevens' power play goal with 1 minute, 36 seconds left held up, enabling Newport Harbor to escape with a 9-8 victory over league rival Los Alamitos in the title match of the S&R Sport Cup on Saturday night at Woollett Aquatics Center.