Wild-Card Playoff Spot Might Just Be at Stake in Irvine-Tustin Game
It may be premature to call the third game of the season “pivotal,” but no one can blame Terry Henigan, Irvine High School coach, or Marijon Ancich, Tustin coach, if they are a little nervous going into tonight’s nonleague game between the Vaqueros and Tillers at 7:30 in Irvine Stadium.
Last year, the outcome of this early-season game may have sealed Irvine’s postseason doom.
At the end of the regular season, the Vaqueros and the Tillers were among the teams considered by the CIF Southern Section for a wild card berth in the Southern Conference playoffs. As it turned out, the selection committee snubbed them both in favor of Loara.
Henigan believes his team’s 21-7 nonconference loss to Tustin was the factor that knocked Irvine out of contention.
By the same token, he believes tonight’s game could provide one team with the victory that could mean the difference between playing a game of football as a wild card or playing a game of crazy eights on the opening night of the playoffs November 22.
“Both teams are in kind of the same position in a way,” Henigan said. “The South Coast League has to be one of the strongest leagues in the Southern Conference with (favorites) Capistrano Valley, Mission Viejo and El Toro. In the Century League, Tustin is looking at El Modena, Foothill and Villa Park.
“Most years, we’re going to be fighting for a wild card. This game could be extremely crucial if we end up fourth (in the league).”
Irvine (2-0) has the advantage in size and experience this year. To listen to Ancich, you might be tempted to believe the Tillers don’t belong across the same line of scrimmage from the Vaqueros. You can’t always take Ancich literally, however.
“When they go on, the field is going to tilt under all that weight,” Ancich said. “We’ll just be there hoping to hang on and get control of the ball for a down or two.”
Irvine does have several experienced linemen, led by offensive guard Bob Hamelinm who is 6-foot 1-inch and 225 pounds. Henigan said his other top lineman, tackle Greg Gerardi (6-7, 245), will miss the game because of a sprained knee suffered during Irvine’s 36-26 upset of Newport Harbor last week.
Henigan wishes 5-7 quarterback Jimmy Raye, a converted defensive back, would pass a little more--for his own health and durability.
But Ancich dismisses the idea.
“He doesn’t have to pass with 50 yards of green grass in front of him,” Ancich said. “He’s so fast, nobody in America can stop him, so what can we do? We’re just a bunch of little guys in big shirts.”
Some of these “little guys” are pretty decent football players, however. The Tillers (2-0) have yet to allow a touchdown, although Ancich says opponents Kapaa of Hawaii and Woodbridge are not of the caliber of Irvine.
In other nonleague games starting at 7:30:
Mater Dei (1-1) vs. Santa Ana (0-2) in Santa Ana Stadium--The Monarchs carry the momentum of a 41-20 victory against Santa Ana Valley into this game, which will benefit the Mayor’s Special Olympics Fund. Mater Dei’s sophomore quarterback, Todd Marinovich, ranks second in the county in touchdowns with five and is fourth in passing yardage with 421 yards.
Newport Harbor (1-1) vs. Huntington Beach (2-0) on Sheue Field--It may be a surprise to some that the Oilers, not the Sailors, enter this game undefeated. With quarterback Joe Napoli doing a capable job, the Oilers have passed and run successfully in wins against Corona del Mar and Damien. Gardena (0-1) vs. Ocean View (1-1) in Westminster Stadium--After losing to Fontana, one of the Southern Section’s best teams, last week the Seahawks play the Mohicans, the No. 4 team in the L.A. City Section. Gardena is also coming off a loss, a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the state’s No. 1 team, Long Beach Poly.
Buena Park (0-2) vs. Magnolia (1-1) in Glover Stadium--Expect the Sentinels to bounce back from last week’s 27-7 loss to Los Amigos, in which six turnovers and 80 yards in penalties spelled their doom.
La Quinta (2-1) vs. Gahr (1-1) in Hanford Rants Stadium--After losing their opener to El Dorado, the Aztecs got all the elements of their game in sync last week and crushed favored Foothill, 26-7. If La Quinta plays anything like that tonight, they shouldn’t have any problem against the Gladiators, who edged Artesia, 21-19, last week.
Katella (0-2) vs. Orange (0-2) in Fred Kelly Stadium--The Knights have been overmatched against opponents Magnolia and Villa Park, scoring only once and giving up 28 points in each game. But with the aid of the county’s seventh-leading rusher, Terry Johnson (219 yards), Katella stands a good chance of getting its first victory of the season tonight.
Los Amigos (1-1) vs. Estancia (1-1) in LeBard Stadium--The Eagles are playing well despite the loss of quarterback Mike Roselline to mononucleosis and receiver Eric Dorn to a knee injury. The Lobos also got their first win last week when they beat Magnolia, 27-7.
Rancho Alamitos (1-0) vs. Western (1-1) in Handel Stadium--The Pioneers overcame penalties and an injury to quarterback Rich Lodding to shut out Kennedy, 23-0, last week while the Vaqueros opened their season with a victory against Savanna, 24-14.