Josh Ireland

School: Santa Margarita High School

Sport: Football

Position: Running back/free safety

Class: Junior

Ireland’s statistics--237 yards in 16 carries and four receptions for 70 yards and three touchdowns--indicate he had an all-round performance in Santa Margarita’s game against University Friday. But those numbers don’t show the crucial plays Ireland made that made the Eagles’ drive for a game-winning field goal possible. In the first half, Ireland had touchdown runs of 45 and 83 yards and caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Yankoff, which helped the Eagles take a 21-7 lead at halftime. University rallied to tie the score, 21-21, and with less than two minutes remaining, Ireland returned the kickoff 30 yards to give Santa Margarita to ball on its 40-yard line. A few plays later, Ireland caught a 30-yard pass from Yankoff, putting the ball on the 7, from which Travis Lucero kicked the game-winner field goal. Ireland, who was an all-Division IX defensive back last season, also made three unassisted tackles and knocked down a pass.

Other top performers:

Sean Saunders, who rushed 17 times for 203 yards and scored touchdowns on runs of 60, 73 and 5 yards in Foothill’s 28-23 victory over Woodbridge Friday.

Jason Johnson, who gained 207 yards in 29 carries and scored two touchdowns in La Habra’s 26-7 victory over Bolsa Grande Friday.

Kevin Eggert, who scored 27 goals in the Capistrano Valley water polo team’s five matches in the Millikan Tournament. Eggert scored six points in the Cougars’ 13-7 victory over Miraleste in the finals Saturday.

Mark Gonzales, who was named the athlete of the meet after running three miles in 15 minutes 9 seconds, the fastest time of the meet, in the small-schools race at the Woodbridge Invitational Saturday.