Irvine Hangs Tough to Beat Santa Margarita

Running back Tony Mathis kept his faith.

Quarterback Mike Phelps finally got a chance to lead.

Defensive back/receiver Geoff Noisy just concentrated.

It was Irvine football, without any doubts. The Vaqueros, a team well-seasoned in big games, won another Friday, defeating Santa Margarita, 29-26, in front of 5,000 at Saddleback College.

Both teams went up and down the field much of the night. Yet, it was the Vaqueros (6-1, 4-0 in league), ranked fourth in Orange County, who pulled it out and, thus, took a big step toward their second consecutive Sea View League championship.

“Their players have all been through this before,” Santa Margarita Coach Jim Hartigan said. “I don’t think they ever get rattled.”

If ever there was a time, Friday seemed to be the night.

Santa Margarita (5-2, 2-2) controlled the first half. Quarterback Derek Yankoff picked apart the Vaquero secondary. Brian and Brad Finneran, the Eagles’ 6-foot-5 twin receivers, took turns catching passes.

Brian Finneran caught the last one, a 31-yard touchdown reception on a pass that was up for grabs on the last play of the half. Finneran out-jumped four Irvine defenders and the Eagles walked off the field with a 19-7 lead.

Irvine’s poise was put to a severe test. But the Vaqueros have won back-to-back Southern Section titles.

“If you doubt, you lose,” Mathis said.

Those were more than words for Mathis. He gained 175 yards, 105 of which came in the second half. He also scored two touchdowns.

Irvine scored on its first two possessions of the second half. Mathis ended one drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Phelps ended the second by tossing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Sean Clark to give the Vaqueros the lead.

Phelps, a senior, had not started a game until this season. As a sophomore, he watched Jason Minici lead the Vaqueros to the Division II championship. Last season, he watched as Aron Garcia guided them to the Division IV title.

Friday, it was Phelps’ turn to lead Irvine in a big game. He completed his last eight passes and finished 15 of 23 for 175 yards. He threw two touchdown passes, including a 39-yard scoring pass to Noisy in the first half.

He completed four consecutive third-down passes to keep drives alive in the second half.

“I always knew I was going to get a chance to do this,” Phelps said. “I knew how I would react. But this really feels good.”

Only because of Noisy, who made the key defensive play at the end.

Mathis’ second touchdown run gave the Vaqueros a 29-26 lead with seven minutes left. Irvine held on the next series, then ran off some time.

Santa Margarita got one last shot with 1:40 left. But, on fourth down, Noisy dived for a deflected pass and made the interception.

Said Mathis: “We just expect to win these games.”