Newport Harbor Football Preview

CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoffs

First round

Newport Harbor (6-4) vs. Troy (7-3)

When/where: Friday night, 7 at Newport Harbor High

Key Sailors: Sr. RB-LB Talalelei Teaupa (1,305 yards and eight TDs on 201 carries); Sr. LB-Marty Taylor; Jr. WR-CB Quest Truxton (43 catches for 730 yards and 11 TDs)

Key Warriors: Jr. QB Kyle Blumer (1,236 yards, 15 TDs and four INTs on 89-of-147 passing); Sr. RB Dallas Parent (1,425 yards and 16 TDs); Soph. WR Dominic Vaccher (34 catches for 532 yards and six TDs)

Breakdown: Newport Harbor opens the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoffs against Troy, the second-place team from the Freeway League … Sailors, the Sunset League runner-up, is playing host to a first-round game for the first time in eight years … Last time Newport Harbor began the playoffs at home it went on to reach a section title game … Sailors and Warriors have never met in football … Newport Harbor is making its 21st postseason appearance in 27 years under Coach Jeff Brinkley … Sailors last won a playoff game five years ago.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza