Irvine lands in playoffs

IRVINE - Irvine's football players and coaches had plenty to celebrate Friday night.

The Vaqueros wrapped up Pacific Coast League play by defeating University, 12-0, at Irvine High to lock up third place and a berth in the CIF playoffs. (Full game stats.)

Irvine (7-3, 2-2) also captured the Dennis Toohey Fence Post Trophy, which goes to the city champion. It's the first time since 2002 that Irvine, which was 4-0 against intracity rivals, has won it.

"It's good to have it back; we haven't won it in a few years," Irvine running back Justin Reihanifam said. "It means a lot."

As they were raising the Fence Post on the field, the players also learned that Corona del Mar had defeated Beckman, 20-10, enabling Irvine to finish in third place in the league.

"We had actually lost the coin flip, if Beckman had won, we were going to be out," Irvine coach Terry Henigan said. "So we were happy to hear that CdM had won, although I'll be real honest, our focus this week has been on trying to beat a good high school football team."

Henigan was also excited about the Fence Post.

"The Fence Post is big. I knew Dennis (Toohey, the late youth football coach in Irvine), and I know the impact he had on a lot of kids," Henigan said.

On a windy night, both teams' passing games struggled. Irvine quarterback Allen Merritt completed 4 of 12 passes for 44 yards while University's Elliott Martin connected on 4 of 17 for 27 yards with two interceptions.

Martin rushed for 104 yards on eight carries, but Irvine had a more balanced running attack, led by Tra'shon Young, who rushed for 81 yards on 19 carries.

Reihanifam rushed for 54 yards on eight carries. Reihanifam put the Vaqueros ahead when he scored from 11 yards out with 9:54 left in the second quarter.

Shane Whippo then scored from 7 yards out with 2:10 left in the game to clinch the win.

University (4-6, 0-4) had a big chance in the early going. On their first drive, the Trojans advanced the ball to the Irvine 9 before fumbling the ball away.

"We made mistakes and they didn't," University Coach Mark Cunningham said. "They ran the ball at the end and we couldn't stop them and that was the difference.

"We had to make fewer mistakes and we didn't, that's what high school football is all about."

University won the Fence Post last season.

Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com