Football: Irvine pulls it out, 14-0

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - While the year 2000 will be remembered for an endless

election and a false-alarm computer bug, it will also go down in local

football lore as the 1-Yard Line Too Close To Call.

Not once, but twice Friday night, Newport Harbor High’s offense was

burned at the preferred spot just outside the goal line.

From the 1-yard line, it’s supposed to be a short jaunt to paydirt.

But, for the Sailors, it was Death Valley against Irvine in the CIF

Southern Section Division VI championship game, won by the Vaqueros,

14-0, before an estimated 8,000 fans at Orange Coast College.

In the second quarter, there was a game-turning play that will

probably wear out the Newport Harbor coaches’ VCR in the offseason. Did

the ground cause a fumble, or not?

The officials said no.

And Irvine linebacker Zach Taylor scooped up a Harbor fumble in the

end zone, after the Sailors fumbled at the Vaqueros’ 1-yard line.

In the fourth quarter, with Newport Harbor driving, Irvine safety Joe

Bollard intercepted a pass at the 1-yard line and returned it 45 yards,

icing the victory for Irvine (14-0) and capping a perfect season.

“Stuff just doesn’t go your way sometimes,” said Newport Harbor

quarterback Morgan Craig, who completed 17 of 31 passes for 163 yards and

two interceptions.

In a scoreless game, Newport Harbor took possession early in the

second quarter after a sack and forced fumble by Garrett Troncale and

fumble recovery by Ian Banigan, giving the Sailors field position at the

Irvine 39.

But, on Newport’s seventh play of its ensuing series, Craig connected

with senior Andy Rankin. But, after catching the pass, the ball bounced

out at the 1-yard line as Rankin met the turf. Newport coaches vehemently

argued, but the officials allowed Irvine to take over at the 20 following

a fumble recovery.

Or did the ground cause the fumble?

Three plays later, Irvine scored on a 77-yard touchdown pass.

“We go from almost scoring a touchdown to giving up a touchdown,”

Rankin said. “All I can tell you (on the fumble) is that it was close. I

thought I was down, but I guess the referee didn’t see it that way. It

was a big momentum swing.”

The same play worked earlier in the game, when Craig found Rankin on a

9-yard pass after a fake to run. But this time it didn’t work and the

ball popped loose. Apparently, before Rankin hit the ground.

“I was following the play from the back side and saw the ball come

loose,” Taylor said. “I just got lucky to get the (fumble).”

The momentum swing was huge.

Because, on Irvine’s long scoring pass to Eric Patton, the Vaqueros

went ahead, 6-0.

Newport Harbor felt Patton pushed off on the play to break free and

reach the end zone with 5:45 left.

“The guy pushed off down there,” Rankin said. “That play should have

been brought back.

“But we made some critical errors.”

The 1-yard line was no friend to Newport Harbor again in the fourth

quarter.