PREP FOOTBALL : South Coast League : El Toro Damages Irvine’s Playoff Hopes With Victory

Wide receiver Sean Drinkwater caught a 10-yard touchdown pass with 3 minutes 14 seconds remaining Friday night to lift El Toro High School to a 27-26 victory over Irvine in front of 4,500 at Mission Viejo High.

The victory moved El Toro (6-4, 3-2) into a tie for second place in the South Coast League with Capistrano Valley and assured the Chargers of the league’s third berth in the Division III playoffs next week.

The loss was costly for Irvine (6-4, 2-3). The Vaqueros’ only chance of earning a playoff berth is being named to the 16-team division as a wild-card entry, a spot that figures to go to Warren of the San Gabriel Valley League.

“If Irvine doesn’t get into the playoffs, it’s a crying shame,” said El Toro Coach Bob Johnson, who earned his 100th career victory in 11 seasons. “They’re a hard-luck team that may have to turn in its gear on Monday.”

Irvine gained 331 yards rushing with backs Pat White (169 yards in 13 carries) and Shad Vickers (158 yards in 23 carries) repeatedly riping through El Toro’s defense for big gains.

The game promised to be high-scoring and the teams followed form by scoring in every quarter.

Irvine punted only once and averaged 7.9 yards per running play but lost its momentum and ultimately the game when quarterback David Lincoln fumbled at El Toro’s 5-yard line late in the third quarter and defensive guard Kevin Adams recovered for El Toro.

White scored 3 touchdowns for Irvine on runs of 7, 20 and 49 yards but each time the Vaqueros scored, El Toro countered.

El Toro took a different route to the end zone for 3 touchdowns via quarterback Steve Stenstrom. Stenstrom threw touchdown pass of 23 and 10 yards to Drinkwater and a 9-yard pass to tight end Bo Haley.

Stenstrom completed 15 of 19 passes for 175 yards and mixing up his passes to 5 receivers.

Fullback David Nemeth added 99 yards rushing in 25 carries, scored a touchdown and was successful on 3 conversion kicks, giving him 90 points for the season.