University Playoff Hopes Alive After Victory

University High School got back into the CIF football playoff picture with a 17-7 upset of Saddleback in a Sea View League game Friday night at Irvine High.

“That’s only the second time we’ve ever beaten Saddleback,” University Coach Mark Cunningham said, “This is such a big, big win for this school.”

The victory meant University (4-5, 2-2 in league) will control its own playoff fate in the final regular season game next week against Corona del Mar.

“It means if we can win next week, nobody can stop us,” Cunningham said.

Saddleback (4-5, 2-2) still can qualify for the playoffs by beating Newport Harbor next week.

Friday night, the Roadrunners couldn’t stop University’s running game in the first half as University’s ball-control offense kept possession for over 15 minutes.

Running back Todd Anderson scored first for University, catching a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Vail. Nathan Moreale’s conversion made it 7-0.

At the start of the second quarter, University added to its lead with an impressive, 12-play, 75-yard drive that took nearly six minutes.

University converted on four consecutive third downs, the last a scoring play with Vail scrambling out of trouble to find Anderson for a 24-yard touchdown pass in the left corner of the end zone.

The Trojan defense limited Saddleback’s potent running backs, Mike Castro and Hernan De Santos, to only 126 yards in 21 carries. Against Corona del Mar last week, the pair combined for 226 yards in 36 carries.