IRVINE – University improved to 5-0, its best start to a season since 2007, with a 49-14 nonleague win over Sage Hill on Friday at University High. The Trojans took advantage of a few key Sage Hill mistakes and got two touchdowns each from Matt Abellaneda, Michael Jung and Sam Winder in the victory.
University scored three times in less than three minutes to jump to a big lead. The scoring started with a 4-yard touchdown run by Abellaneda with 2:24 left in the first quarter.
Sage Hill (1-5) didn’t pick up the ball on the ensuing kickoff, Jalen Robertson recovered at the 3-yard line and University was in business again. Abellaneda dove in from 1 yard out two plays later to help put the Trojans ahead, 14-0.
Sage Hill then fumbled on its next offensive play and University had the ball again. Neil Boudreau found Jung open for a 4-yard TD pass and University led, 21-0, with 11:55 left in the first half.
Sage Hill got on the board when Dejongh Henry ran in from 1 yard out.
But the Trojans scored two more touchdowns in the first half, getting a 27-yard TD pass from Boudreau to Jung and a 1-yard scoring run by Winder. The Winder TD was set up by an interception and 70-yard return by Darrius Outland.
Uni was up, 35-7, at halftime.
Winder rushed 11 times for 94 yards, Boudreau completed 6 of 9 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns and Jung caught four passes for 63 yards to pace University.
Sage Hill was led by Caden Sheetz, who threw for 212 yards and one touchdown and David Dewy, who caught 10 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown.
