Williams’ Return a Triumph for Irvine

Senior running back Al Williams returned to the lineup and rushed for 122 yards in 20 carries to help Irvine rally to a 20-14 Sea View League victory over Corona del Mar Thursday night at Irvine.

Williams, who sat out the last five games with a bruised right knee, helped Irvine (3-4, 1-1) get into position to score the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

With the score tied, 14-14, Irvine got the ball on the Corona del Mar 37-yard line after an interception by Adrian Guillen with 8 minutes 39 seconds left in the game.

On the next play, Williams ran 25 yards to move the ball to the 12-yard line.

Four plays later, quarterback Andrew Howard scored on a three-yard keeper, putting Irvine ahead, 20-14, with 6:50 left in the game. The Vaqueros missed the kick.

Irvine tied the score, 14-14, on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Chris Sinner with 9:58 left in the game.

Corona del Mar (2-5, 0-2) moved out to a 14-7 lead on a two-yard touchdown run by Nate Lemmerman, with 50 seconds left in the third quarter.

Irvine took the initial lead when Howard threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sean Moussa-Zahab with 26 seconds left in the first quarter. But the Sea King tied the score, 7-7, when Ryan Cooper intercepted a pass by Howard and returned the ball 58 yards for a touchdown with 9:04 left in the second quarter.

Lemmerman led Corona del Mar, rushing for 71 yards in 17 carries.