HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : Irvine Sails in Third-Quarter Wind

Quarterback Jason Minici’s 94-yard touchdown pass ignited a third-quarter scoring burst that lifted Irvine High to a 37-18 victory over Ventura Saturday night in a Southern Section Division II quarterfinal game at Irvine.

Irvine (10-2) scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to advance to the semifinals next Saturday against Pasadena Muir. Ventura finished its season at 9-3.

The teams scored all of their points with a strong wind at their backs in the first half before Minici turned the game around by teaming with wide receiver Jon Peck on a 94-yard touchdown pass that pushed Irvine ahead, 24-10, in the third quarter.

The tandem combined for another touchdown two minutes later, this time connecting on a 26-yard scoring play that gave Irvine a 31-10 lead, and Ventura never seriously threatened again.

Ventura came into the game averaging 386 yards per game, including 274 yards rushing, but the Cougars had problems getting untracked against Irvine’s defense coupled with the strong wind.

Ventura quarterback Trevor Rumsey had 178 yards passing but also threw two interceptions. Running back Derek Swafford, who had rushed for 1,085 yards in 10 games, was held to 63 yards in 11 carries.

Irvine had no problems moving the ball in the second half. Minici had only 29 yards passing in the first half but burned Ventura’s secondary for 192 yards in the second. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 221 yards, missing only two passes in the second half.

Running back Scott Seal was equally effective on the ground. Seal had 46 yards rushing at halftime, but finished with 190 yards in 33 carries. Seal scored two of his three touchdowns in the second half.

Minici’s long touchdown pass to Peck from his own six-yard line caught Ventura by surprise. Swafford, playing defensive back, was barely beaten on the pass to midfield, but then Peck had a clear field ahead of him once he got past Swafford.