PREP FOOTBALL / SEA VIEW LEAGUE : Irvine Defeats El Toro to Grab a Share of First Place

Terry Henigan bounded around the field like a schoolboy, and his Irvine players leaped in the air as though they had won a Southern Section championship.

For now, the Vaqueros will have to settle for first place in the Sea View League.

Using a defense that limited high-scoring El Toro to its lowest total of the season, Irvine created a tie for first with a convincing 28-14 victory over the Chargers in front of 2,500 Saturday at Trabuco Hills High.

“We haven’t had a win like this in so long,” said Henigan, whose team missed the playoffs last year after winning three consecutive section championships. “We told the kids to have fun and not worry about the scoreboard and all that pressure--just have fun.”

El Toro (7-2, 3-1) was the No. 1-ranked team in Division V and No. 6 in Orange County, which meant nothing to a determined Irvine (6-3, 3-1).

Jared Flint completed 18 of 25 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns.

He had touchdown passes to Jake Savona (14 yards), Corey McCauley (38 yards) and Creed Poulson (11 yards).

Flint was especially effective getting the ball into Savona (12 catches for 223 yards), including a 67-yard strike that led to Savona’s one-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes 44 seconds left in the first half. Sevan Setian missed the extra point, giving Irvine a 13-7 lead, but the Vaqueros had points to spare against a team that averaged 35.3 points.

Irvine scored the two decisive touchdowns in the third quarter, on Flint’s passes to McCauley and Poulson.

The Vaquero defense limited El Toro to 228 yards--178 passing. Irvine’s offense gained 438.

El Toro took its only lead with 29 seconds left in the first half after a crucial face mask penalty against Irvine.

On third and 16 at Irvine 25, Krupp’s pass to Michael Smith was incomplete but the penalty moved the ball to the 13. Krupp went again to Smith at the left flag--the same spot as the play before--for the score.

Chad Johnson kicked the extra point, making it 14-13.