Mathis Runs for 202 Yards, Irvine Wins

Sea View League opponents have been a thorn in Foothill’s side for the past two seasons. But no defeat has been as hard to swallow as the one suffered Friday night at Irvine.

Tony Mathis’ three-yard run with 2 minutes 19 seconds remaining rallied second-seeded Irvine from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter for 27-24 victory in the Division IV quarterfinals in front of 3,200 fans at Irvine High.

With the victory, its ninth in a row, Irvine advanced to the division semifinals for the third consecutive season. The Vaqueros meet Glendora, a 27-8 winner over Riverside Poly, next Saturday at a site to be determined.

Foothill, which lost its fourth straight to a Sea View team and was eliminated from the playoffs by Irvine for the second consecutive year, had a chance to tie in the closing seconds. However, Steve Patterson’s 33-yard field-goal attempt was wide left as time ran out.

Foothill (8-4), which had an eight-game winning streak snapped, was clinging to a 24-19 lead with 5:28 remaining. But Foothill’s Paul King fumbled a punt at his 47 and Jason Miele recovered.

Seven plays later, Mathis, who ran for 202 yards and a touchdown in 18 carries, scored the winning touchdown.

Foothill drove from its 33 to Irvine’s 16 with six seconds remaining, but Patterson’s miss gave Irvine its 10th consecutive playoff victory.

Foothill led, 17-16, at the half and increased it in the third quarter after an Irvine turnover. Kevin Daft’s one-yard run capped a five-play, 35-yard drive with 3:48 remaining in the third.

Irvine’s Tommy Louie cut Foothill’s lead to 24-19 when he connected on a 26-yard field goal with 11:57 remaining.

The Knights scored first. Daft’s 35-yard touchdown pass to King with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter gave Foothill a 6-0 lead.

Running back Sean Clark scored on a 34-yard run with 2:27 remaining in the first for a 7-6 Irvine lead.

Clemmons’ 26-yard field goal with 11:51 left in the second quarter gave Foothill a 9-7 lead before Irvine grabbed it again on a one-yard scoring run by quarterback Mike Phelps with 7:03 left in the half for a 13-9 advantage.

Daft’s six-yard scoring pass to John Bain gave Foothill the lead again, 17-13, with 3:19 remaining in the half.

A Foothill turnover led to Louie’s 38-yard field goal at the end of third, cutting Foothill’s lead to 17-16.