FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Irvine Overcomes Late Fumble to Defeat Corona del Mar

Tight end Travis Kowalewsky caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Mike Phelps with 2 minutes 44 seconds left to lift Irvine to a 23-20 victory over Corona del Mar in a Sea View League opener Saturday night at Irvine High.

Irvine, ranked fourth in the county, also used three Tommy Louie field goals and a defensive stand in the final minute to hold off Corona del Mar (2-2, 0-1).

Irvine (3-1, 1-0) appeared to have clinched the victory when Chris Austin intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards to the Sea King 41.

But Tony Mathis fumbled on the next play, and the Sea Kings recovered with 1:31 left.

Corona del Mar advanced to the Irvine 41, but Aaron Perimutter’s pass on fourth and four fell incomplete with five seconds left.

Corona del Mar looked like it would pull off an upset when Perimutter connected with Scott Witucki on a 59-yard touchdown pass with 5:41 remaining.

But Irvine then marched 82 yards in nine plays, culminating in a touchdown pass from Phelps to Kowalewsky. Three of Phelps’ earlier passes had been intercepted.

Corona del Mar took an early 7-0 lead when Mike DiGrado scored from 10 yards out with 4:37 left in the first quarter.

But Mathis scored from one yard out to tie the game, 7-7, with 11:12 left in the second.

Louie then hit a 27-yard field goal with 3:02 left in the second quarter to give Irvine a 10-7 lead.

Corona del Mar regained the lead, 13-10, when Brian Hogan scored a 38-yard touchdown run with 8:38 left in the third quarter. The kick was blocked.

Louie’s 36-yard field goal with 3:47 left in the third quarter tied the score, 13-13.

Louie then kicked a 35-yard field goal with 6:15 left to give Irvine a 16-13 lead.

Orange Lutheran 48, L.A. Cathedral 22--Quarterback Joe Juliano and receiver Tom Pannell connected for three touchdowns to lead host Orange Lutheran over previously undefeated Cathedral in a nonleague game.

With Orange leading, 14-7, and 32 seconds left in the first half, Juliano threw to Pannell for a 20-yard touchdown. They opened the second-half scoring for the Lancers on a 55-yarder to make it 27-7, then teamed again for 17 yards to make it 41-22 in the fourth quarter.

“Juliano and Pannell are close friends and work well together,” Lancer Coach Jim Kunau said. “They improvised on a couple of things today.”

Juliano completed 16 of 24 passes for 276 yards. Pannell caught five for 144 yards.

Orange Lutheran (2-2) got started early, finishing their opening drive with Dan Young’s one-yard touchdown run. Brandon Back ended their second drive with a two-yard touchdown run.

“We played poorly last week in a number of phases,” Kunau said. “The boys were determined to play good, especially against a good team as Cathedral (3-1). We needed some momentum to compete in our tough conference, and we did so today.”

Cathedral’s Travis Jackson rushed for 141 yards in nine carries, including a 73-yard touchdown run.