Fourth-Quarter Scores Get Irvine Past Newport Harbor

These entertaining come-from-behind victories may be great if you’re a fan, but they’re taking a toll on the players who are providing them.

“I’m going to have a heart attack before the season’s over,” said Irvine quarterback Mike Phelps.

The most recent palpitations came courtesy of Irvine’s 29-21 Sea View League triumph Friday night at Newport Harbor, where the third-ranked Vaqueros scored three consecutive fourth-quarter touchdowns.

It was the second week Irvine (6-1, 5-0) relied on second-half heroics. A week earlier against Santa Margarita, Phelps engineered a comeback victory.

He was no less impressive against Newport Harbor (6-2, 3-2), which took a 21-9 lead at halftime, which it carried into the fourth quarter.

Phelps completed 16 of 21 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, including the eight-yard scoring pass to Geoff Noisy early in the fourth.

It was a touchdown that seemed to have a rippling effect on the Vaqueros. Running back Tony Mathis, who was “held” to 59 yards in nine carries during the first half, went ballistic in the backfield and scored on touchdown runs of four and five yards. He finished with 191 yards in 42 carries, 33 yards in three receptions and scored three touchdowns.

“We came out and played Irvine football,” was Mathis’ simple explanation of Irvine’s deficit-erasing performance.

Phelps elaborated: “We came out flat and they were fired up. Give Newport credit. They played a great first half.”

Actually, two quarters and a fine goal-line stand in the third that was all for naught.

Irvine’s first possession in the third ate up close to nine minutes off the clock and the Vaqueros came up empty-handed when Mathis was stuffed on consecutive carries for the Sailors’ first-and-10 at their one. But Irvine held running back Wade Tift (17 carries, 103 yards, one touchdown) to short gains and forced the Sailors to punt from their 10.

“They did a good job of controlling the ball,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said.

Possession-wise, Newport Harbor didn’t have the ball long enough in the second half--five minutes--to do much.

“Our offense moved the ball well in the first half, but when you only have 10 plays in the second half, you can’t get it done,” Brinkley said.

The Sailors did plenty in the first. After Irvine took an early 3-0 lead on a Tommy Louie 36-yard field goal, Newport Harbor scored back-to-back on a 56-yard pass from Ryan Smith to Brett Hlista and on a 50-yard run by Tift for a 14-3 lead.

Irvine cut it to 14-9 on a five-yard touchdown pass from Phelps to Mathis, but the Sailors marched back and took a 21-9 halftime lead when Smith found Hlista again, this time on a five-yard pass.