Droughns Rushes for 278 Yards in Anaheim’s Upset of Irvine

The clock ticked down to zero and Terry Henigan turned to his team and yelled.

“Go over and congratulate them,” he said. “They kicked our butts.”

Nice to see Henigan doesn’t watch a game through rose-colored glasses.

Anaheim did exactly what Henigan said. The Colonists, who have a one-man attack in Reuben Droughns, knew exactly how to use him in their 20-7 upset of third-ranked Irvine.

Droughns right. Droughns left. Droughns right up the middle.

It’s a simple game plan, and the Colonists executed it--and executed the Vaqueros at the same time.

The Anaheim junior rushed 31 times for 278 yards and three touchdowns Saturday at Glover Stadium as the Colonists (3-0) made believers out of at least one Orange County power.

“We tried to gain our respect,” Droughns said afterward to reporters. “You’ve got to admit it--everyone doubted us. No one thought we could do it.”

OK, nobody thought you could do it, Reuben. Especially against Irvine (2-1), which was ranked No. 3 in the State Division II rankings by Cal-Hi Sports.

“We’re just happy to be on the same field with a team of (Irvine’s) caliber,” said Anaheim Coach Allen Carter before the game. “We just hope to have a reasonable score and give a good account for ourselves.”