Newport Harbor in good hands

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Jeff Brinkley is expected to be released from Hoag Hospital on Sunday after experiencing an arrhythmia, or rapid heartbeat, in Newport Harbor’s 16-3 victory over Aliso Niguel on Thursday. Brinkley, who left the game at halftime, was held for observation and further tests, though he had been talking with his colleagues. Everything seems to be OK.

But with guys like Tony Ciarelli, Zack Biehl and Bill Calloway on his staff, there is no need for Brinkley to dive headlong into this week’s preparation for (gulp) Long Beach Poly.

Ciarelli served as the head man at Newport Harbor over the last few days. ‘The program and the system dictates that it’s not going to look much different without Jeff here,’ Ciarelli said.

As for facing Long Beach Poly, which may be the toughest nonleague opponent Newport Harbor has tackled?

‘We figured if we were going to play in this division, we have to find out what it’s all about,’ Ciarelli said. ‘We thought we should get a big-time Pac-5 team.’

There are few bigger, though Poly’s stunning 20-7 loss to Birmingham now creates all kinds of questions about just how dominant the Jackrabbits are, and it no doubt will give Newport Harbor players a spark of confidence. Poly was ranked No. 2 by The Times and No. 2 in the state by CalHiSports.com. The game is at Newport Harbor on Friday, 7 p.m.

-Martin Henderson