NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - iSportsWire -- One of Orange County high school football's great traditions returns Thursday night as the Newport Harbor Sailors host the Corona del Mar Sea Kings in the Battle of the Bay at Davidson Field.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 10, with a sold-out crowd expected for the annual crosstown rivalry.

For generations, the Battle of the Bay has been about far more than football. Players from the two programs grow up in the same community, compete against one another from youth sports through high school and, for one night each year, find themselves on opposite sides of one of Newport Beach's most celebrated rivalries.

This year's matchup brings plenty of intrigue. Newport Harbor enters Thursday night 2-1, following a 41-0 season-opening victory over Nanakuli in Hawaii and a dramatic 29-24 comeback victory over Murrieta Mesa at Davidson Field. Corona del Mar arrives undefeated at 3-0, setting the stage for another highly anticipated chapter in the rivalry.

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The Sailors have shown an explosive offense early this season, with a veteran group of playmakers giving Newport Harbor multiple ways to attack. Senior quarterback Jordan Spigarelli has led the passing game, with Shane McKibbin, Ryan Palmer and Jackson Stremick among the Sailors to watch Thursday night.

Coach Burns Earns Chargers Recognition Ahead of Rivalry Week
Adding to the excitement surrounding Newport Harbor football, Sailors Head Coach Matt Burns recently earned recognition as a Los Angeles Chargers Tackle Coach of the Week, an honor recognizing Southern California high school football coaches for leadership, hard work and dedication to student-athletes.

For Burns, the Battle of the Bay carries special significance. A Newport Harbor graduate from the Class of 1994, Burns played linebacker for the Sailors and has devoted decades to the Newport Harbor football program as a player, assistant coach and now head coach.

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A Newport Beach Tradition
The history between Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar has produced unforgettable finishes and generations of memories. In 2023, Newport Harbor defeated CdM 21-20 at Davidson Field, ending a 10-game Sea Kings winning streak in the rivalry and giving the Sailors their first Battle of the Bay victory since 2012.

About Newport Harbor Football
Newport Harbor Football represents Newport Harbor High School and generations of Sailor student-athletes, coaches, families and alumni. The Newport Harbor Football Boosters support the football program and its student-athletes through community involvement, fundraising and program support.

www.tarfootball.com