ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : DIVISION VIII : Murray’s Scores Put University in Second Round

Junior Kelvin Murray rushed for two touchdowns to lead University to a 35-12 victory over Duarte in the opening round of the Division VIII playoffs Friday night at Irvine High.

University (9-1-1) plays the winner of Riverside Norte Vista-Temple City in the second round.

Murray rushed for 152 yards in 16 carries while Jarrett Mahoney rushed for 119 yards in 14 carries for University.

It was University’s first playoff victory since 1991.

Duarte, the second place team from the Montview League, finished with a 6-5 record.

Univeristy won without starting quarterback Damian DeFeo, who was ill. He was replaced by Bryant Geary, who did not complete a pass in two attempts.

But Geary rushed for 52 yards on eight carries. Playing cornerback on defense, Geary had one of three Trojan interceptions.

University took the lead when Mahoney scored on a 46-yard run with 3:31 remaining in the first quarter. Geary connected with Rodrigo De Zubiria on a two-point conversion to put the Trojans ahead, 8-0.

Geary’s 20-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left in the first quarter put University ahead 15-0.

Murray had the next two Trojan scored, a one-yard run with 1:03 left in the second quarter and an 83-yard run with 10:31 left in the game that gave University a 29-0 lead.