Irvine Beats University, 13-7

Junior Mike Belle scored a touchdown and rushed for 142 yards to lead Irvine High School to a 13-7 victory over University Thursday night at Irvine High School.

Belle, who had 17 carries, scored on a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:45 left in the second quarter to give Irvine a 13-0 lead.

University closed the gap to 13-7 with 6:55 left in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Gary Smarr.

Irvine took the lead on a 13-yard pass play from quarterback David Lincoln to Pat White with 5:57 left in the first quarter.

University, which had won the last two games in the series, had a chance to win it with two minutes remaining when it worked the ball to the Irvine 36, but on a fourth and three, a pass from quarterback Junior Oliver fell incomplete.

White rushed for 58 yards on 12 carries and Lincoln completed 10 of 20 passes for 125 yards.

Smarr led University with 61 yards on 11 carries but Oliver completed only 3 of 13 passes for 30 yards.

“We executed really well in the first half, but a few key fumbles there changed the momentum of the game,” said Irvine co-coach Rick Curtis, who coached at University three years ago.

“We obviously didn’t get four good quarters out of our offense. We probably got about 2 1/2, but it’s still a good win for us because Uni is a good football team.”

Irvine fumbled four times, losing the ball three times. Lincoln was also intercepted once, by University defensive back Barry Gaskins in the third quarter.