Brinkley’s condition stabilized

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Jeff Brinkley, head football coach at Newport Harbor for 22 seasons, will remain at Hoag Hospital until Sunday, according to defensive coordinator Tony Ciarelli.

Brinkley left at halftime during his team’s 16-3 victory over Aliso Niguel on Thursday. He was taken by paramedics to the nearby hospital’s emergency room after his players and coaches returned to the field. He was suffering from arrhythmia, or an alteration of the rhythm of the heartbeat. He is being kept so doctors can perform a full battery of tests.

‘As of right now, he’s going to stay in the hospital until until Sunday,’ said Ciarelli, who spoke with Brinkley Friday afternoon. ‘About 10 years ago, he had the same thing. It’s good when you can get a wake-up call and you don’t have to pay too heavy a price.’

- Martin Henderson