TOWSON, Md. – Before the kickoff for its season-opening game against Maryland private school Calvert Hall College on Friday evening, Irvine tore through a sign “West Coast is Best Coast.”
It was the highlight of a long evening for the Vaqueros.
Calvert Hall routed Irvine, 47-0, as senior running back Damien Farmer rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown for Calvert Hall (1-0), and Kenji Bahar threw for two scores.
Irvine managed just 77 yards of offense, absorbing its first shutout loss since Corona del Mar posted a 36-0 decision in Week 6 last season. Vaqueros coach Erik Terry saw his team’s new no-huddle offense get off to an erractic start.
“We knew we were going to struggle early,” Terry said. “We got some guys in some new spots, so this was a learning game for us.”
The Vaqueros got off to a promising start as Mikey Filia connected with Josh Gray for a 33-yard gain on third-and-13 on the game’s third play from scrimmage. But Trent Colbert missed on a 34-yard field goal attempt and Irvine didn’t get another first down after the opening drive.
“Penalties started to add up and we started to backtrack,” said Filia, whose team had seven penalties in the opening half.
The Vaqueros fumbled the ball in the second quarter and Calvert Hall junior defensive end Jimmy Crowley picked up the loose ball and ran 50 yards for a touchdown, giving the Cardinals a 13-0 advantage.
Irvine trailed, 27-0, at halftime.
In other nonleague games:
Brethren Christian 28, Riverside Prep 12: Guy Demazeliere scored two touchdowns and Jason Fuga and Andrew Assaf scored one each as the Warriors (1-0) opened their season with a victory at Riverside Prep.
Middle linebacker Ryan Garner had 17 tackles for Brethren Christian.
Saddleback Valley Christian 35, Windward 7: Running back David Molina scored on a 3-yard run on the Warriors’ first offensive possession, and free safety Gavin Schafer returned an interception 50 yards for a score to give the Warriors a 14-0 lead.
Molina, who is also the team’s long snapper, recovered a fumbled punt return for a touchdown to give SVC a 21-0 lead in second quarter.
