Football: Can Santa Margarita take the next step?

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Despite competing in the Pac-5, the toughest playoff division in California, Santa Margarita won four of its first five games--the team’s best start since going 6-0 to open the 2006 season--and the question is just how good are the Eagles?

We’ll have a more definitive answer by the night’s end, because The Times’ 18th-ranked team begins Trinity League play at Orange Coast College against perennial powerhouse Orange Lutheran, which has won the last three meetings between the schools by an average of 17.6 points.

This year, Santa Margarita comes in as the favorite, especially after crushing previously-undefeated Los Alamitos, 31-7, two weeks ago. The Eagles are averaging 45.4 points per game and tied a school record by hanging 63 points on Anaheim Canyon in September. The Eagles have only punted five times in 55 possessions this season.

Orange Lutheran opened the season with decisive wins over La Habra and Los Angeles Garfield, but dropped back-to-back contests to Tustin and Redlands East Valley before blowing out St. Albert’s of Canada, 54-0, two weeks ago.

This will be the first time these league rivals have played each other at Orange Coast College and their seventh confrontation overall, with Orange Lutheran holding a 5-1 series lead. Santa Margarita’s only victory was 42-0 in the inaugural matchup in 1989.

Check back in about an hour for live blogging of tonight’s game.

-- Steve Galluzzo