Irvine Starts Quickly, Blanks Saddleback

Keith Short scored two touchdowns and blocked a punt to lead Irvine to a 33-0 victory over Saddleback in a nonleague game Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

Short scored on an eight-yard run on the Vaqueros’ first possession, capping a 78-yard drive. He also returned a free kick 72 yards for a touchdown, following a safety.

“Our kids played hard for four quarters,” Irvine Coach Terry Henigan said. “Short made some big plays, the plays you need to break a game open.”

Vaquero quarterback Mike Ricci completed six of nine passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He found Chris Sinner from 17 yards out on the first play of the second quarter to cap a 45-yard drive. Ricci hit James Whitted for an 18-yard touchdown on the next series.

Godfrey Young rushed for 63 yards in eight carries for Irvine (2-0). The Vaqueros scored on five of their seven first-half possessions before the team’s second string played a scoreless second half. Backup quarterback Chris Lewis did not attempt a pass in more than two quarters.

Saddleback quarterback Victor Ortiz completed five of 13 passes for 56 yards as Irvine’s defense stifled the Roadrunners. Saddleback (0-2) had only six first downs and moved the ball across midfield only once, a second-quarter drive that ended with halftime.