Moore Scores 4 Touchdowns for El Toro

Behind running back Sam Moore’s career-high 200 yards rushing and four touchdowns, El Toro started the second half of its season with a 25-15 Sea View League victory over Irvine Thursday night at Trabuco Hills High.

“You can get rid of the nightmare and get on with a positive thing where you can start off new,” El Toro Coach Mike Milner said. “It is like driving off the lot with a new car or starting off in a new house.”

Moore led the Chargers (2-4, 1-0) with touchdown runs of 39, 69 and six yards. But he got El Toro on the board with a reception for a touchdown on an 11-yard pass from quarterback Mike Strand. The extra point was missed and the Chargers led, 6-0.

Irvine (2-4, 0-1), which was without star running back Al Williams (knee injury) for the fifth straight week, opened the game in a no-huddle offense.

But it was the Vaqueros’ defense that set up their first score. Michael Nishimura intercepted Strand’s pass and three plays later Irvine scored when wide receiver Ray Kang found Evan Little open on a double-pass play for a 50-yard touchdown. The touchdown gave Irvine a 7-6 lead with 53 seconds remaining in the half.

After two Moore rushing touchdowns, Irvine used another trick play to pull within 18-15 with 9:34 left in the game.

But Moore sealed it with his third rushing touchdown of the second half with 1:44 left in the game.