Lucero’s Field Goal Keeps Santa Margarita Unbeaten

Travis Lucero’s 24-yard field goal with 6:38 left gave undefeated Santa Margarita High School a 17-14 victory over Claremont in a Division IV playoff opener Friday at Saddleback College.

Santa Margarita advanced to a second-round game against Bell Gardens Friday.

Halfback Josh Ireland scored Santa Margarita’s only second-half touchdown on a 19-yard run, tying the score, 14-14, with 5:34 left in the third quarter. Ireland rushed for 105 yards in 22 carries; the touchdown was his 18th of the season.

Claremont (5-5-1) marched 70 yards on 10 plays to score on its first possession of the game. Quarterback Adam Metwalli passed 25 yards to wide receiver Ryan Wall with 3:57 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

Santa Margarita (11-0) scored its first touchdown with 44 seconds left in the first quarter on quarterback Trevor Yankoff’s 10-yard run.

With 5:54 left in the first half, Claremont took a 14-7 lead on Terrill Grant’s five-yard run.