SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Division IV Championship

Irvine vs. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs

RECORDS--No. 2 Irvine (12-1); No. 1 Canyon Springs (12-1)

SITE--Orange Coast College, 7:30 p.m.

IRVINE--What does this say about Terry Henigan’s program: The Vaqueros lost 19 starters off the two-time defending Southern Section champion and are back again for a third trip. This time, there’s a little adversity. Tony Mathis (1,731 yards, 24 touchdowns) is coming off a sprained ankle he suffered in the first half of the Vaqueros’ 42-21 victory over Glendora in the semifinals. The good news is Irvine scored 28 points with Mathis on the training table; Sean Clark (11 touchdowns) rushed nine times for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Mike Phelps (2,083 yards, 18 touchdowns) gives the offense good balance, but the offensive line must protect him against Canyon Springs’ blitz if the Vaqueros are to win. If Mathis is ready, Irvine’s offense is as good as it gets. Linebackers George Linares (54 tackles, 57 assists), Brian Flynn (49 tackles, 50 assists) and Jay Wojtkiewicz (49 tackles, 40 assists) anchor the defense. The Vaqueros have won 10 straight and are 43-8 since 1990.

CANYON SPRINGS--The Ivy League champion has been in Division IV four years and was the top-seeded team three times, but this is the Cougars’ first championship appearance. They’re more one-dimensional than Irvine, running the Wing-T, but it’s a very diversified attack that has gained 3,900 yards (7.3 yards per carry) and scored 51 touchdowns. Leading the charge is Marcelle Williams (1,180 yards, 7.0 per carry), who has scored 16 times. He is backed by Darrell Franklin (783, 6.8, seven touchdowns), quarterback Ryan Roques (726, 8.2, 12 touchdowns) and sophomore Bryan Howard (705, 11.6, eight touchdowns). Irvine has not seen a team with this much speed: Six players have had runs of 52 yards or longer, and another rushed 40 yards for a score. Howard is the State champion in the 100 meters; Howard and Williams were on the State’s fourth-place 400 relay team (41.53 seconds). Quarterbacks have completed 24 of 66 passes (36.4%) for 331 yards, three interceptions and a touchdown. Brandon Reitan has made four of eight field goal attempts, including a 49-yarder. The defense blitzes often and hasn’t allowed a second-half point in the playoffs. The Cougars have won 10 straight, and are 40-7 in the 1990s.

KEY TO THE GAME--The defense that can slow the other team wins.

CONSENSUS--The last Orange County team to win three consecutive section championships was Brea-Olinda in 1961-63. This is the first time in three attempts that Canyon Springs has reached the final after being top-seeded, and this time, they start 14 juniors. Go with history, and for Irvine to make history, with a 28-24 victory.