THRILLER! Vaqs rally for 29-28 victory over Timberwolves
10/31/2011 14:51
By TIM BURT / The Orange County Register
Irvine junior Jeremiah Carter kicked three field goals Friday night, but he saved the best for last.
Carter kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to lift Irvine to a 29-28 comeback victory over Northwood in a wild Pacific Coast League game at Irvine Stadium.
Jeremiah Carter kicked three field goals, including the game winner Friday night as time expired as Irvine defeated Northwood, 29-28, at Irvine Stadium.
TEXT BY TIM BURT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER; PHOTO COURTESY IRVINE FOOTBALL
As time expired, the Irvine players jumped and celebrated and raised their hands to their fans. Many of the stunned Northwood players collapsed on the field in disbelief. It was a game the Timberwolves looked like they had won.
"They tried to ice me twice with two timeouts but I just tried to zone out the crowd, it was really good blocking and it was a good hold and it went through," Carter said.
The victory boosted Irvine's playoff hopes and kept the Vaqueros alive in their pursuit of the Dennis Toohey Fence Post Trophy. Irvine (4-4, 2-1) plays co-PCL leader Beckman Friday night at 7 at Tustin. Beckman currently leads the Fence Post race with Irvine in a close second.
It also gave Irvine a 6-0 lead in the series against Northwood.
It was a devastating loss for Northwood, which was in control for most of the game and was moving the ball at will offensively. The Timberwolves (2-6, 0-3) will probably have to win their final two league games to have any chance of advancing to the playoffs.
Northwood plays Woodbridge Friday night at Irvine Stadium.
Northwood had some outstanding performances in defeat. Quarterback Ricky Bautista was outstanding again, passing for 324 yards and scoring twice on 1-yard TD runs. He also rushed for 59 yards. Kevin Norman was his favorite target, hauling in 15 catches for 148 yards for the Timberwolves.
But Carter turned out to be the biggest star of the night.
He also kicked a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 26-yarder in the second quarter.
Irvine tried to win the game with 2:16 left when Carter attempted a 52-yard field goal, but the attempt fell short.
It looked like Northwood had the game wrapped up.
The TImberwolves tried to run out the clock, but on a second-down play, Bautista scrambled toward the sideline to try and stay in bounds and pick up a first down, but fumbled. Irvine's Kevin Torres recovered at the Northwood 8-yard line with 1:18 left.
The Vaqueros were eventually backed up to the Northwood 12-yard line. But Carter's kick had plenty of distance.
"What a kick and Kevin's fumble recovery (was big)," Irvine Coach Erik Terry said. "Our guys play start to finish all the time and they do things the right way. We prepared. Northwood was dynamite tonight. Coach Curtis and Coach (Dean) Toohey had those guys coached up and playing their tails off. That's one of those games where it's disappointing for anybody to lose.
"But our kids take so much pride in being prepared and never letting anything get them down and being resilient."
It was looking promising for Northwood which held a 28-13 lead following a 2-yard TD run by Paul Kim with 38 seconds left in the third quarter. Kim also scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.
But on Irvine's next drive, Torres bolted 80 yards for a score closing the gap to 28-19.
Northwood was trying to protect its lead and had the ball on its own 43-yard line in the fourth quarter.
But Alex Cliatt turned the game around, intercepting a pass and returning it 50 yards for a score to cut the Northwood lead to 28-26 with 7:12 remaining in the contest.
"Alex has struggled a couple times in the last month or so, he got beat over the top against Corona del Mar and Torrance and he was determined to make up for those mistakes and he picked a good time to do it," Terry said.
The interception turned out to be the game-changer.
But Northwood Coach Rick Curtis said he came away wishing he had gone for a field goal at the end of the first half.
On a first and goal from the seven, Northwood opted to go for a touchdown and Kim was stopped at the 1 as time ran out.
"I cost us the game, it's my fault, our kids played their butts off," an emotionally-drained Curtis said. "We should have kicked the field goal at the end of the first half and it came back to bite us. The kids played their hearts out. I couldn't have asked anything more of our kids. They just played so hard. Ricky had a great game, all the kids played hard. The defense played hard. They got three big plays. Those big plays hurt us. The long touchdown pass, the long run and then the interception.
"He said both knees were down but it was hard to tell from where I was looking at. He was trying to make things happen and he's our guy and he's a hell of a quarterback. We were trying to run it outside and get some time off the clock. They did a good job of covering. It's unfortunate we turned it over there, but it's not his fault."
Irvine quarterback Ryan Goodman had eight completions for 166 yards, including a 64-yard TD pass to Richard Caceres with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter.
Caceres had five catches for 117 yards and Torres rushed for 147 yards on 14 carries.
Irvine junior Jeremiah Carter kicked three field goals Friday night, but he saved the best for last.
Carter kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to lift Irvine to a 29-28 comeback victory over Northwood in a wild Pacific Coast League game at Irvine Stadium.
Jeremiah Carter kicked three field goals, including the game winner Friday night as time expired as Irvine defeated Northwood, 29-28, at Irvine Stadium.
TEXT BY TIM BURT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER; PHOTO COURTESY IRVINE FOOTBALL
As time expired, the Irvine players jumped and celebrated and raised their hands to their fans. Many of the stunned Northwood players collapsed on the field in disbelief. It was a game the Timberwolves looked like they had won.
"They tried to ice me twice with two timeouts but I just tried to zone out the crowd, it was really good blocking and it was a good hold and it went through," Carter said.
The victory boosted Irvine's playoff hopes and kept the Vaqueros alive in their pursuit of the Dennis Toohey Fence Post Trophy. Irvine (4-4, 2-1) plays co-PCL leader Beckman Friday night at 7 at Tustin. Beckman currently leads the Fence Post race with Irvine in a close second.
It also gave Irvine a 6-0 lead in the series against Northwood.
It was a devastating loss for Northwood, which was in control for most of the game and was moving the ball at will offensively. The Timberwolves (2-6, 0-3) will probably have to win their final two league games to have any chance of advancing to the playoffs.
Northwood plays Woodbridge Friday night at Irvine Stadium.
Northwood had some outstanding performances in defeat. Quarterback Ricky Bautista was outstanding again, passing for 324 yards and scoring twice on 1-yard TD runs. He also rushed for 59 yards. Kevin Norman was his favorite target, hauling in 15 catches for 148 yards for the Timberwolves.
But Carter turned out to be the biggest star of the night.
He also kicked a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 26-yarder in the second quarter.
Irvine tried to win the game with 2:16 left when Carter attempted a 52-yard field goal, but the attempt fell short.
It looked like Northwood had the game wrapped up.
The TImberwolves tried to run out the clock, but on a second-down play, Bautista scrambled toward the sideline to try and stay in bounds and pick up a first down, but fumbled. Irvine's Kevin Torres recovered at the Northwood 8-yard line with 1:18 left.
The Vaqueros were eventually backed up to the Northwood 12-yard line. But Carter's kick had plenty of distance.
"What a kick and Kevin's fumble recovery (was big)," Irvine Coach Erik Terry said. "Our guys play start to finish all the time and they do things the right way. We prepared. Northwood was dynamite tonight. Coach Curtis and Coach (Dean) Toohey had those guys coached up and playing their tails off. That's one of those games where it's disappointing for anybody to lose.
"But our kids take so much pride in being prepared and never letting anything get them down and being resilient."
It was looking promising for Northwood which held a 28-13 lead following a 2-yard TD run by Paul Kim with 38 seconds left in the third quarter. Kim also scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.
But on Irvine's next drive, Torres bolted 80 yards for a score closing the gap to 28-19.
Northwood was trying to protect its lead and had the ball on its own 43-yard line in the fourth quarter.
But Alex Cliatt turned the game around, intercepting a pass and returning it 50 yards for a score to cut the Northwood lead to 28-26 with 7:12 remaining in the contest.
"Alex has struggled a couple times in the last month or so, he got beat over the top against Corona del Mar and Torrance and he was determined to make up for those mistakes and he picked a good time to do it," Terry said.
The interception turned out to be the game-changer.
But Northwood Coach Rick Curtis said he came away wishing he had gone for a field goal at the end of the first half.
On a first and goal from the seven, Northwood opted to go for a touchdown and Kim was stopped at the 1 as time ran out.
"I cost us the game, it's my fault, our kids played their butts off," an emotionally-drained Curtis said. "We should have kicked the field goal at the end of the first half and it came back to bite us. The kids played their hearts out. I couldn't have asked anything more of our kids. They just played so hard. Ricky had a great game, all the kids played hard. The defense played hard. They got three big plays. Those big plays hurt us. The long touchdown pass, the long run and then the interception.
"He said both knees were down but it was hard to tell from where I was looking at. He was trying to make things happen and he's our guy and he's a hell of a quarterback. We were trying to run it outside and get some time off the clock. They did a good job of covering. It's unfortunate we turned it over there, but it's not his fault."
Irvine quarterback Ryan Goodman had eight completions for 166 yards, including a 64-yard TD pass to Richard Caceres with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter.
Caceres had five catches for 117 yards and Torres rushed for 147 yards on 14 carries.
Irvine has to settle for a tie against Torrance
10/10/2010 18:13
Irvine High's football team was hoping for one of those feel good wins before opening Pacific Coast League play this week Friday against University.
But Torrance spoiled those plans, rallying from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to earn a 21-21 tie in the final nonleague game Friday night at Irvine Stadium.
Irvine quarterback Jake Day runs the ball up on a keeper during Friday's game against Torrance.
MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
MORE PHOTOS »
"No, that's not what I was hoping to finish nonleague with," Irvine Coach Erik Terry said. "I was feeling pretty good and then that fourth quarter kind of leaves that sour taste in your mouth.
"It's a game we should have won and good have won and had opportunities but we didn't and those guys (from Torrance) battled."
Irvine (1-3-1) tried to win the game on a 35-yard field goal by Tim Callian with 23 seconds left, but the kick went to the right.
"I wish it was like the SATs," Terry said. "If we could take our best quarters from the last three games, we would be pretty darn good. We're still having a hard time in one quarter or another.
"Last week we had a tough first quarter against Laguna Hills and then I thought we played great in the second, third and fourth. This week, I thought we had three pretty darn good quarters and then the fourth, we made some mistakes that will cost you ballgames or at least give a team a chance to get back into it."
Irvine moved out to a 21-7 lead on a 3-yard TD run by Tommy Holt with 10:05 to play.
But Torrance (1-3-1) came back to tie the score. Tyrone Taylor scored on a 4-yard TD run with 5:54 left, but the Tartars missed the kick.
Torrance came back to tie it its next possession. Dillon Abell broke loose for a 50-yard TD run, and then quarterback Ralph Ramirez, who hadn't completed a pass all night, hit Adam Dahl for the 2-point conversion to tie it with 3:16 left.
Quarterback Jake Day had a solid game for Irvine, completing 14 of 25 passes for 157 yards.
Day scampered 76 yards for a touchdown with 2:36 left in the second quarter to give the Vaqueros the lead.
Day then hooked up with Rocky Keyhea on a 13-yard TD pass late in the second quarter to give the Vaqueros a 14-0 halftime lead.
But Torrance spoiled those plans, rallying from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to earn a 21-21 tie in the final nonleague game Friday night at Irvine Stadium.
Irvine quarterback Jake Day runs the ball up on a keeper during Friday's game against Torrance.
MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
MORE PHOTOS »
"No, that's not what I was hoping to finish nonleague with," Irvine Coach Erik Terry said. "I was feeling pretty good and then that fourth quarter kind of leaves that sour taste in your mouth.
"It's a game we should have won and good have won and had opportunities but we didn't and those guys (from Torrance) battled."
Irvine (1-3-1) tried to win the game on a 35-yard field goal by Tim Callian with 23 seconds left, but the kick went to the right.
"I wish it was like the SATs," Terry said. "If we could take our best quarters from the last three games, we would be pretty darn good. We're still having a hard time in one quarter or another.
"Last week we had a tough first quarter against Laguna Hills and then I thought we played great in the second, third and fourth. This week, I thought we had three pretty darn good quarters and then the fourth, we made some mistakes that will cost you ballgames or at least give a team a chance to get back into it."
Irvine moved out to a 21-7 lead on a 3-yard TD run by Tommy Holt with 10:05 to play.
But Torrance (1-3-1) came back to tie the score. Tyrone Taylor scored on a 4-yard TD run with 5:54 left, but the Tartars missed the kick.
Torrance came back to tie it its next possession. Dillon Abell broke loose for a 50-yard TD run, and then quarterback Ralph Ramirez, who hadn't completed a pass all night, hit Adam Dahl for the 2-point conversion to tie it with 3:16 left.
Quarterback Jake Day had a solid game for Irvine, completing 14 of 25 passes for 157 yards.
Day scampered 76 yards for a touchdown with 2:36 left in the second quarter to give the Vaqueros the lead.
Day then hooked up with Rocky Keyhea on a 13-yard TD pass late in the second quarter to give the Vaqueros a 14-0 halftime lead.
A happy homecoming for Henigan
09/30/2010 12:38
A happy homecoming for Henigan
BY TIM BURT
SPORTS EDITOR
Terry Henigan was back on the sidelines Saturday at the Irvine-Los Amigos football game at Irvine Stadium. But the former Vaquero coach, who retired last season after 29 years, was there in a much different capacity.
Henigan, who had just returned from a six-week vacation with his wife Francine, spent the night visiting with old friends and watching the Vaqueros defeat Los Amigos, 28-7.
It marked the first victory for Henigan’s successor, Erik Terry.
“I’ve been playing golf, tennis and doing everything and having fun,” Henigan said. “I go to a lot of games out there (in Indio). I went to a game Thursday night and Friday night, watching some high school football out there, so that’s been my little fix so I can get a little football.
Henigan also spent time on the East Coast, helping one of his sons coach his Junior All-American football team.
“I coached with him for nine days, so that was my coaching for the year,” he said. “I’m done.”
Henigan said he was happy to be back in Irvine.
“Francine and I have loved being in Irvine and we love retirement, but we miss Irvine High, that’s for sure. “This is the first game I got to see, but I’ll be in for the league games. It’s going to be a great league, it’s going to be exciting.”
Henigan said he liked what he saw of his old team.
“They looked good, I know Erik has been real happy and they’re improving every week. That’s all you can do and get ready for league.”
The new coach, Erik Terry, said Henigan’s return was a boost.
“I was excited to see him on the sideline before the game,” Terry said. “It felt right, even though he wasn’t on the sidelines calling the plays, it just seemed right to have him on the sidelines for our first home game, so I’m glad he made it.”
Henigan
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
09/30/2010 12:37
Amazed, excited and tired. Junior Richie Caceres was all three late in the second quarter last Saturday night against Los Amigos. And that is because he had just scored his first varsity TD on one of the best plays of the season so far. Caceres intercepted a pass by Danny Hernandez in the end zone and then raced 101 yards for a score to put Irvine comfortably ahead in what was a 28-7 win. Read More...
Grandma proud to be a Vaquero
09/30/2010 12:35
If you’ve ever been to an Irvine High football or baseball game, there’s a good chance you ran into “Grandma.” A big Vaquero fan, “Grandma” was Anna B. Friend, the grand-mother of former Irvine football and baseball standout D.J. Crumlich. She died last week at the age of 91, her daughter Karen, a long-time Irvine booster said.
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