Second-Half Burst Helps Irvine Defeat Capistrano Valley

Irvine, starting this regular season where it left off last year, defeated Capistrano Valley, 20-0, in front of 4,300 Friday at Capistrano Valley High.

The stakes were significantly higher last time when Irvine defeated Capistrano Valley, 17-13, in the 1991 regular-season finale to win its first South Coast League title in 15 years and keep Capistrano Valley out of the playoffs. Irvine advanced through the Division II playoff field and won its first Southern Section title.

This time it was only the nonleague opener for both teams, because Irvine has moved into the Sea View League. But it was a satisfying victory nevertheless.

“We knew we were in for a battle,” Irvine Coach Terry Henigan said. “We have had plenty of games in the South Coast League to prove that.”

It took more than a half for Irvine to get rolling. With Jason Minici, a two-year starter at quarterback, lost to graduation, many figured the Vaqueros would rely primarily on Scott Seal, a three-year starter at running back.

But in the first half, Aron Garcia, Minici’s replacement at quarterback, passed the ball more than twice as often as he handed off to Seal, who gained 1,765 yards last season.

It didn’t make for an especially efficient offense, but Henigan said the experimentation was necessary for offensive balance.

“I think we know what Scott Seal can do,” he said. “We have to find out what everybody else is capable of.”

At this point, apparently not as much as Seal. After carrying the ball only seven times for 26 yards in the first half, Seal carried 14 times in the second half for 72 yards and two touchdowns.

Two costly Capistrano Valley mistakes helped Irvine score.

First, Capistrano Valley was called for pass interference on the opening drive of the second half, giving Irvine the ball on the 13. Garcia scrambled seven yards, and Seal took two carries to reach the end zone.

Then on Capistrano Valley’s next play, running back Greg Payne fumbled and Robert Hernandez recovered at the Capistrano Valley 15. Three plays later, Garcia scored on a three-yard bootleg to give the Vaqueros a 14-0 lead.

With the way Irvine’s defense was playing--the Vaqueros held Capistrano Valley to 85 yards total offense--that more than enough.