Champion Irvine Tries to Focus on Road Ahead

The football players and coaches at Irvine High School spent Saturday night celebrating the school’s first league championship in 15 years. By Monday afternoon, they were back at work as if nothing had changed.

“We’re back to earth after looking at films of our next opponent,” Irvine Coach Terry Henigan said.

Irvine (8-2 and No. 4 seeded) plays host to Simi Valley (7-3) in the first round of the Division II playoffs Friday night.

Although it’s imperative for Irvine to look ahead to the school’s third playoff appearance in the past 10 years, it’s difficult not to look back.

“It’s been really special,” Henigan said of the past 10 games. “You know, probably the longer you wait for something, the more you enjoy it. There was a lot of satisfaction in seeing the players so happy.”

Spring and summer workouts gave Henigan a hint of how good Irvine could be this season. It was simply a matter of pulling it all together when the season began in September.

“We have a saying, ‘It’s not the X’s and O’s, it’s the Jimmys and the Joes,’ Henigan said. “We have fine talent.”

A balanced offense, led by the passing of Jason Minici, the blocking of Curt Cannon and the running of Scott Seal, has been only partially responsible for the best season in school history, according to Henigan.

Minici has thrown for 1,584 yards and Seal has rushed for 1,257 yards, but Henigan isn’t pleased with the offense’s efficiency.

“It sounds weird, but we haven’t really clicked,” he said. “The offense can get better.”

The defense is a different story.

“It’s 11 guys flying to the ball,” Henigan said. “They are a pleasure to watch.”

Henigan said the credit goes to Rick Curtis, Irvine’s defensive coordinator, and to defensive lineman John Martin, linebackers Ryan Jones and Tarey Gettys and cornerback Aaron Herr.

However, Irvine does not have an easy road to the championship game.

The many top teams in a tightly bunched field include:

--No. 1 seeded, and unbeaten Royal.

Led by a steady passing attack, Royal ended Thousand Oaks’ lengthy domination in the Marmonte League. Quarterback Ryan Fien, a shoe-in as an All-Southern Section selection, has thrown for 1,647 yards, 22 touchdowns and had three passes intercepted.

--No. 2 seeded, once-beaten Glendale.

In addition to having the division’s best nickname, the Dynamiters also have the best name, period. Pathon Rucker, an All-Southern Section running back last season, has gained 1,361 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.

--No. 3 seeded, twice-beaten Thousand Oaks.

Royal’s victory over Thousand Oaks ended the Lancers’ 20-game league winning streak. Running backs Cory Bowen and Quincy Jacobs have gained 1,515 and 962 yards.

--Unseeded Simi Valley (7-3).

Irvine’s first-round opponent averaged 224 yards a game passing this season. Quarterback Eric Bennett has completed 44.9% of his passes for 2,194 yards and 20 touchdowns. However, Simi Valley’s sieve-like defense has given up 343.6 yards a game.

--Unseeded Mission Viejo (7-3).

There’s a lot to be said for tradition. The Diablos have advanced to the semifinals seven consecutive seasons.

Division II

Last year’s champion--Capistrano Valley (12-2 in 1990).

Top teams--Dana Hills (6-1-3), Dominguez (8-2), Downey (6-3-1), Royal (10-0), Glendale (9-1), Irvine (8-2), Simi Valley (7-3), Thousand Oaks (8-2), Ventura (8-2).

Dark horses--Mission Viejo (7-3), Muir (6-4).

Key players--Eric Bennett, Simi Valley, quarterback, 2,194 passing yards; Cory Bowen, Thousand Oaks, running back, 1,515 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns; Nathan Callister, Glendale, quarterback, 1,000-yard passer; Ryan Fien, Royal, quarterback, 1,647 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions; Marcus Jenkins, Dana Hills, running back, 1,185 rushing yards; Matt Keneley, Mission Viejo, lineman, perhaps the county’s top recruit; Jason Minici, Irvine, quarterback, completed 54.1% of his passes for 1,584 yards; Dave Romines, Simi Valley, wide receiver, 24.2 yards per catch; Pathon Rucker, Glendale, running back, 1,361 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns; Scott Seal, Irvine, running back, 1,257 rushing yards; Mike Streeter, Royal, running back, 1,000-yard rusher; Derek Swafford, Ventura, running back, the Channel League’s No. 2 rusher with 1,085 yards; Mike Wright, Glendale, wide receiver, 23.3 yards per catch.

Noteworthy--Top-seeded Royal ended No. 4 Thousand Oaks’ 20-game Marmonte League winning streak with a 28-13 victory two weeks ago. No. 2 Glendale won its second consecutive Pacific League title, defeating Muir, 17-16, two weeks ago. Last week, No. 3 Irvine won the first league title in the school’s 15-year history. Mission Viejo was No. 1-ranked in Orange County the first five weeks of the season, then was ripped by Mater Dei, 42-7, but finished the regular season winning its final two games to qualify for the playoffs. Defending champion Capistrano Valley failed to advance to the playoffs for the first time since the school opened in 1977. Paramount, the 1990 runner-up, doesn’t figure to be a factor. The Pirates should fall to Glendale in a first-round matchup.