Harbor history repeats

Barry Faulkner

Today is the four-day anniversary of the victory which, for all but

a fortunate few involved with this year’s Newport Harbor High football

team, will stand as the crowning achievement of their athletic career.

Indeed, the best thing about earning the distinction of champion is that

it lasts forever. A year from now, five years, 10, 25, 100 or 1,000,

history will note the singular accomplishment achieved by Coach Jeff

Brinkley’s 13-0-1 Sailors this fall.

There is, and always will be, only one CIF Southern Section Division VI

champion in 1999.

Today, this still-euphoric fourth day, this year’s players are still

walking on clouds. Only in the years to come, however, will they fully

appreciate the special feeling that accompanied Friday’s 19-18 triumph

over Irvine at Orange Coast College.

For a little perspective, this year’s team need only look to the CIF

champs of 1994, a 14-0 Harbor squad from which several players have

already made the post-collegiate transition into the work force.

History remembers them, too. History never forgets.

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Brinkley, as well as a handful of assistant coaches, remain a link to the

only two section championship squads in the school’s 69 seasons.

Assistants Bill Brown, Mike Bargas, Bill Vetica and Bill Calloway, as

well as coaches’ assistant Ryan O’Donnell, will soon add a second

championship ring to their collection.

Brinkley said the five seasons in between, which included one trip to the

title game (1996) and another to the semifinals (‘97), have helped him

appreciate winning in Week 14.

The winningest coach in Newport-Mesa District football history was

particularly gratified that his 80-year-old father, Roy, as well as his

former high school coach and former Sailors’ assistant, Bob Larson,

witnessed Friday’s game.

“I told our kids there’s got to be somebody special in their lives to

enjoy it with and, for me, that was my Dad.

“And I have so much respect for (Larson), I’m glad he was there, too. He

taught me so much and is a major factor in my being a coach.”

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In addition to the aforementioned assistants, who include Harbor alumnus

and former player Bargas, a pair of former Sailors took part in their

first championship season.

Matt Burns, a linebacker on the Sailor team which lost to Irvine, 30-8,

in the 1992 Division IV title game, was particularly energetic during

postgame festivities Friday.

Biehl, a 1995 graduate, had his playing career cut short by a knee injury

after his sophomore season. He was a starting center for his freshmen

team and said even attending varsity games his senior year (‘94) was

agonizing.

“I went to two games all year (including the 20-15 title triumph over

Servite), because it was too painful to watch,” Biehl recalled.

Defensive coordinator Evan Chalmers and Pat Paternie round out this

year’s staff.

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One of many heroes in Friday’s win was sophomore Brian Gaeta.

A transfer from Edison High during the summer, Gaeta began the season as

the starting quarterback, before junior Chris Manderino emerged to assume

that role.

Gaeta’s primary contribution from Weeks 3-7 was cheering from the

sideline, but he took over the place-kicking chores the final seven

games. A left-footed kicker, he made 27 of 28 PATs and his two field

goals Friday were the Sailors’ only three-pointers of the season.

“It shows you what kind of competitor he is to have come through in such

big pressure situations,” Brinkley said.

Gaeta hammered a 38-yarder to put Harbor on the board early in the second

quarter. He added a 36-yarder early in the third quarter and his only PAT

drew the Tars within 18-13 with 4:53 left in the third quarter.

Brinkley said the 6-foot-3, 170-pounder, who also excels in soccer and

volleyball, will shift to receiver next season.

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Senior Robert Cole, who broke his right leg in the Sailors’ semifinal

victory over Kennedy, smiled through severe pain during Friday’s

emotional postgame. He watched the game from a wheelchair, which allowed

only partial elevation of his surgically repaired leg. Unable to stem the

blood flow down to his foot, the throbbing which enveloped his leg

increased throughout the evening. But it didn’t stop him from

participating in the celebration. He was wheeled to the front of the

postgame team picture, in which he can be seen holding the championship

plaque.

Cole is scheduled to return to school today and is expected to make a

full recovery. The 6-5, 325-pounder plans to continue his football career

in the Ivy League.

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Mike Freeman, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass from John

Giordani in the ’94 title game, remains protective of his perfect senior

season.

“We can root for you now, because you got that tie (a 21-21 deadlock with

Marina in Week 2),” said Freeman, one of several former players to

address the team after its Thanksgiving Day practice.

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Manderino, who started the final 12 games at quarterback, is now 21-0-1

as a starting signal caller the last two years. The All-Sea View League

performer led the junior varsity to a 9-0-1 season last fall.

A 6-2, 195-pound junior, Manderino also starred at outside linebacker,

making him the only two-way starter returning.