PHOTOS: Fourth quarter surge lifts Salesian past Irvine in CIF Division 8 quarterfinal playoff

Irvine quarterback Khoa Bui attempts to evade the pressure from Salesian linebacker Emmanuel Amaya during the second quarter of Friday’s CIF quarterfinal round playoff game. (PHOTOS: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

The Irvine High School football team’s season came to an end Friday night as the Vaqueros fell to Salesian 20-10 in a CIF Division 8 quarterfinal playoff game at Irvine Stadium.

The Mustangs (9-3), champions of the Del Rey League, have won eight consecutive games after dropping three of their first four games of the season. Irvine (7-5) lost its first home game of the season and finishes with a 7-5 record.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Salesian rallied to score two fourth quarter touchdowns to notch a come-from-behind win and secure a spot in the semifinal game next week against St. Pius/ St. Matthias, who defeated Segerstrom 23-22 on Friday.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Vaqueros took a 10-7 lead when Deacon Moss kicked a 33-yard field goal with 9:52 remaining.

However, the Mustangs stormed back.

Salesian running back Ayden Ramirez returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. The Mustangs missed the PAT but led 13-10 with 9:37 left.

“We needed a big play, and I got the ball, and I did it,” said Ramirez, who rushed for 93 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns.

The Vaqueros went three-and-out on their next possession and Salesian countered with a back-breaking nine-play, 87-yard scoring drive. Ramirez carried the ball four times for 49 yards on the drive to dim the Irvine hopes.

J’Anthony Cobb capped the drive with a 5-yard TD run with 3:11 left in the game to boost the Mustangs to a 20-10 lead. Cobb rushed for 87 yards on 19 carries in the game.

“They have some big dudes and they’re physical and that kickoff return changed the momentum,” said Irvine Coach Tom Ricci. “We had several of our starters hurt and other guys playing hurt, and they just wore us down. We gave it our best and I am so proud of our guys.”

After a scoreless first quarter, the Vaqueros marched 64 yards in five plays to take the lead on its first possession of the second quarter. One of the key plays on the drive was a lateral from quarterback Khoa Bui to running back Sina Saferzadeh, who then threw a 39-yard pass to Moss.

Moss made an outstanding diving catch on the play. Four plays later, Bui scrambled to his right and lofted a 20-yard TD pass to Moss, who made a leaping catch in the end zone, giving the Vaqueros a 7-0 lead at the 10:24 mark of the second quarter. 

Late in the quarter, the Vaqueros drove into Salesian territory, but Irvine’s march was halted by a Salesian interception.

Two plays later, Irvine returned the favor as Enzo Cahoon picked off a Mustangs pass at the Salesian 30-yard line. However, the Vaqueros were unable to mount a drive. Later in the quarter, Dylan Cruz sacked Salesian quarterback Anthony Hernandez causing a fumble.

Diego Moctezuma jumped on the loose ball at midfield for Irvine. The Vaqueros moved the ball to the Mustangs 24-yard line in the final seconds of the half, but Bui’s pass fell incomplete and the half ended with Irvine leading 7-0. 

Both defenses were dominant in the first half. Irvine outgained Salesian 112-69 in the opening 24 minutes. The Vaqueros defense, led by Saferzadeh, Joseph Lynch, Cruz, Tommy Clarke, Cahoon, and Eric Rommel, forced two turnovers in the first half and forced the Mustangs to punt four times.   

Salesian converted an Irvine turnover to tie the score at 7-7 late in the third quarter. Seven plays after recovering a Vaqueros’ fumble, Ramirez scored on a 10-yard TD run to tie the score.

Despite their disappointment, the Irvine players displayed class and sportsmanship following the loss.

“We never quit and I’m proud of our team,” said Moss. “I wish we could have gone further but I’m proud of what we accomplished in four years.”

“I transferred here from Calvary Chapel, and this was my first year at Irvine and it’s the best team I’ve ever been a part of,” added Rommel, a defensive tackle. “We built a family here, and I’m proud to be a part of this program.”

“It’s sad to have the season end, but we gave it our best shot and never gave up,” said Brandon Figueroa, who played the entire game despite suffering with injuries to his sprained right foot and his sprained left ankle. Figueroa rushed for over 1100 yards this season.   

“It was a great season, and we played with a lot of energy,” said Bui, who completed 13 passes for 144 yards and a TD pass. “The momentum switched late in the game tonight, and we just ran out of time.”

Moss, Smith Spivey, and Seamus Hoffman caught a combined 11 passes for 157 yards to lead the Vaqueros.

Notes:

—-Salesian head coach Anthony Atkins is a former Long Beach Jordan High school and University of Washington defensive tackle.  

—Salesian has two former players currently playing in the NFL. Deommodore Lenoir is a defensive back with the San Francisco 49ers and just signed a $92 million contract extension. Keisean Nixon, a cornerback for the Green Bay Packers, is playing in his sixth season in the NFL.  

—According to Ricci, the Vaqueros football team last reached the quarterfinals in 2018, the semifinals in 2013 and last won the CIF championship in 2000.

—Friday was the first meeting between the two schools in football.